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[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] - YOU READY? OKAY.[PAUSE] - WE'LL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[SILENCE] I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER FOR APRIL 29TH, 2025, MEETING OF THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
[INTRODUCTORY ITEMS]
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL CALL.[CALL TO ORDER]
- GOOD MORNING.- SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS. - HERE.
- I AM PRESENT AND I'M CURRENTLY ATTENDING THE COMMUNITY CHOICE ENERGY CONFERENCE IN IRVINE, CALIFORNIA.
SO I'LL BE APPEARING REMOTELY UNDER THE JUST CAUSE EXEMPTION.
NO ONE ELSE IS PRESENT IN THE ROOM WHERE I'M APPEARING.
AND FINALLY, SUPERVISOR HERNANDEZ.
[PAUSE] I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD WHO'D LIKE TO DEDICATE TODAY'S MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS MOMENT OF SILENCE TO KAREN DARLING WHO DIED RECENTLY.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND DARRELL WERE COMMUNITY PILLARS HERE IN OUR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
HE CAME HERE... THEY BOTH CAME HERE TOGETHER TO BE THE PASTOR OF THE METHODIST CHURCH HERE IN SANTA CRUZ
[MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
AND OWNED THE DARLING HOUSE, UM, OUT ON THE CLIFF.AND THEY HOSTED MANY, MANY GATHERINGS, FUNDRAISERS FOR CANDIDATES THAT THEY FELT MADE AN IMPACT, IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND OUR HEARTS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE FAMILY AND, UM, THEY BOTH LIVED GOOD LONG LIVES AND WE APPRECIATED THEM VERY, VERY MUCH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
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- THANK YOU.IF YOU'LL PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
- I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CARLOS PALACIOS, IF THERE'S ANY LATE ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE REGULAR OR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.
THERE'S ONE CORRECTION TO THE AGENDA ON...
IT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 22.
THERE'S ADDITIONAL MATERIALS, A REVISED ATTACHMENT PACKET, PAGE 191, WHICH IS REPLACED,
[CONSIDERATION OF LATE ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA; ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS TO CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDAS]
CORRECTIONS TO THE JUNE, FLAGS TO BE FLOWN AND ILLUMINATION DETAILS.THAT CONCLUDES THE CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA.
[SILENCE] WOULD ANY BOARD MEMBER LIKE TO REMOVE ANY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? - CHAIR? - YES.
- I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 52 AND COMBINE IT WITH ITEM NUMBER 13.
[SILENCE] - YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU WANT TO PULL NUMBER 13?
[ANNOUNCEMENT BY BOARD MEMBERS OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT TO REGULAR AGENDA]
- TO PULL 52 AND COMBINE IT WITH ITEM NUMBER 13.[SILENCE] - DO WE HAVE THAT? OKAY.
[SILENCE] MOVING ON, WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
- YEAH, JUST, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE'LL, WE'LL CHANGE 52 TO A NEW NUMBER SO IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH THE EXISTING 13.
- AND CHAIR, I HAVE MY HAND UP.
- CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER 42, PLEASE.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - SO THOSE WILL BE 6.1 AND 6.2.
SO 13... 52, CAN WE MOVE IT WITH THE ITEM ON CORE? - YES. - OKAY.
- NOW YOU'LL BE HEARING ITEM 13 AND ITEM 6.1.
- AND CHAIR, I ALSO HAVE A REMOVAL WHEN YOU'RE READY.
[SILENCE] [INAUDIBLE] SUPERVISOR DE SERPA.
- ITEM 62 FOR A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
- FOR A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, YOU COULD PROBABLY JUST ASK THEM.
- IF IT'S DIFFERENT DIRECTION, THEN IT'S...
WE COULD PUT IT ON THE CONSENT, ON THE NORMAL AGENDA.
WHAT NUMBER WAS IT AGAIN? [SILENCE] SO 62 IS NOW 6.2.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - THE CORE THING IS 6.2, BUT WE'RE GONNA HEAR IT AT NUMBER 13.
- THAT ONE IS 6.1, BUT SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ PULLED ANOTHER ITEM.
OH MAN, I SHOULD PULL SOMETHING HERE TOO, THEN.
[LAUGHTER] SO ANY PERSON HERE MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
SPEAKERS MUST NOT EXCEED 2 MINUTES, LENGTH OF TIME LIMIT ESTABLISHED BY THE CHAIR.
INDIVIDUALS MAY SPEAK ONLY ONCE.
DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT, ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE DIRECTED AT ITEMS LISTED AT TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA, CLOSED SESSION AGENDA, OR BE HEARD ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
BUT NOTE THAT THE TOPIC ON THE AGENDA WITHIN JURISDICTION THE BOARD WE'LL TAKE ACTIONS, RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO ANY PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
PRESENTED REGARDING TOPICS ON THE AGENDA.SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS ON THE PUBLIC TO COME AND, TO COME AND SPEAK.
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- [INAUDIBLE] - PLEASE NOTE YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.- EXCUSE ME, BUT JUST FOR A FEW OF US ARE HERE ON OTHER SUBJECTS, SO IF IT POSSIBLE THEY WOULD ALLOW IT THAT OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK FIRST, THAT HALF A DOZEN OF US THAT MIGHT BE HERE FOR OTHER SUBJECTS.
AND THEN THE OTHER 100 PEOPLE THAT ALL WANNA AGREE TO COME TALK TO YOU.
IF YOU CAN BRING THE MIC DOWN FOR, FOR THE SPEAKER.
[SILENCE] - HI, UH, MY NAME IS BLAIR BAREISZIS.
MY NAME IS BLAIR BAREISZIS, AND I AM HERE IN REGARD TO MHCAN.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, MHCAN IS A MENTAL HEALTH DROP-IN CENTER, FOR PRIMARILY, BUT NOT ENTIRELY, SERVING THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE REST OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEM, CRACKS, WHICH I'M SURE WILL ONLY WIDEN AS OUR FUNDING...
AS FUNDING FOR OTHER SERVICES IS CUT.
[PAUSE] THESE PEOPLE RELY ON US FOR HOT MEALS.
THEY RELY ON US FOR SHOWERS, THEY RELY ON US FOR SOCIAL...
THEY RELY ON MHCAN FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT I CAN'T EVEN FULLY ENUMERATE HERE.
CUTTING THESE, ACCESS TO THESE SERVICES IS NOT ONLY GOING TO HARM THE EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION, BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO HARM PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THE...
THE INSTITUTION, WHICH IS UP TO 50 PEOPLE A DAY WHO ARE BEING FED, WHO ARE BEING GIVEN SUPPORT GROUPS AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING IN OTHER PLACES ALL THE TIME.
THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN GO DURING THE DAY, CUTTING US WOULD BE COMPLETELY UNETHICAL.
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS PEOPLE GET JOBS, HELPS PEOPLE GET ON THEIR FEET, HELPS PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO USE COMPUTERS, ALL THESE, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, AND CUTTING THAT IS GONNA DESTROY SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND A LOT OF THEIR LIVES ALREADY HIDE, HANG IN THE BALANCE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER.
I'M SOMEBODY WHO IS OFF THE STREET TODAY BECAUSE OF MHCAN, AND I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY I DID.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - HELLO, MY NAME IS MAX.
MY APOLOGIES FOR THE MAD MAX FURY ROAD WARRIOR LOOK, BUT THE LAST TIME I CAME HERE, I CAUGHT COVID, PUTTING MY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED WIFE IN SEVERE DANGER.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE IT WOULD TAKE SOMETHING PRETTY SEVERE TO GET ME BACK UP HERE.
RIGHT NOW, TODAY, PERSONNEL IS ASKING YOU TO CUT JOBS FROM OUR HEALTH SERVICES, ELIMINATING 12 FRONTLINE STAFF WHOSE ROLE IT IS TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
BUT STRANGELY, THEY AREN'T RECOMMENDING ANY CUTS TO MANAGEMENT POSITIONS BECAUSE APPARENTLY, YOUR CONSTITUENTS DON'T NEED A SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM.
NEVER MIND THAT 1 IN 5 HIGH SCHOOLERS CONSIDERED SUICIDE IN 2023, 1 IN 5.
OUR BROTHERS, SISTERS AND COMRADES IN WATSONVILLE, THEY DON'T NEED A PUBLIC LAB OR A RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, NO.
WHAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE IS SAFEGUARDING THE 82% INCREASE IN MANAGEMENT THAT WE WITNESSED HAPPENED FROM 2017 TO 2023.
THERE WERE 17 MANAGERS IN HSA AND HSD IN 2017.
IN 2023, THERE ARE 31, AND THEY ARE STILL HIRING MORE.
THEY SAY THE ONLY WAY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET IS TO CUT PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES.
THE PEOPLE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HEALTHY, SAFE, AND ALIVE.
ASK YOUR STAFF HOW MANY PEOPLE TOOK THEIR LIVES LAST YEAR? ASK THEM HOW MANY CHILDREN TOOK THEIR LIVES LAST YEAR, AND YOU TELL ME WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT, THAT PROGRAM OR THE HEALTH CENTER HIRING YET ANOTHER MANAGER.
DEMAND MORE FROM PERSONNEL, DEMAND MORE FOR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
[SILENCE] - HI, MY NAME IS KIRSTEN JUEL.
I AM A SENIOR MENTAL HEALTH CLIENT SPECIALIST.
I WORK FOR INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM AT HPHP IN EMELINE.
YOU WEREN'T HERE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE.
IT'S NICE TO SEE OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GETTING MORE DIVERSE.
LAST YEAR I WROTE UP A LETTER TO CLINIC MANAGEMENT, AFTER FRONTLINE STAFF WAS ASKED TO SEE MORE PATIENTS IN RESPONSE TO OUR COUNTY'S $5 MILLION DEBT.
I HAD OVER 300 HSA STAFF SIGN THE PETITION, AND WE SUBMITTED THE PETITION TO CLINIC MANAGEMENT AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
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IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE THIS PETITION WAS SUBMITTED, AND WE HAVE NEVER HEARD A WHISPER OF ANY ANSWERS.IN FACT, THE PETITION WAS RECEIVED AS IF ALMOST EVERY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND CLINIC STAFF HADN'T EVEN SPOKEN.
THE REASON I BRING UP THIS MISSED OPPORTUNITY IS BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS ASKED THEN ARE STILL VALID AND WAITING AS WE APPROACH THIS DIRE BUDGETING CRISIS, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERSHIP TO STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY OR STAND IN THEIR FEAR AND ATTACHMENT TO THE STATUS QUO.
THE QUESTIONS THAT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND CLINIC STAFF ASKED WERE AS FOLLOWS.
ONE, WHY PRIORITIZE MORE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSITIONS, PROMOTIONS FOR MANAGEMENT AND NEWLY CREATED EXECUTIVE LEADER POSITIONS OVER GETTING FRONTLINE REVENUE-GENERATING STAFF POSITIONS FILLED? TWO, HOW DO WE RATIONALIZE PAYING $160,000 TO $224,000 FOR SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WHEN THERE HAS BEEN NO PUSH TO INCREASE WAGES FOR FRONTLINE STAFF? THREE, HAS THE COUNTY BEEN WATCHING WHAT HAPPENS TO ORGANIZATIONS WHEN THEY BECOME TOO TOP-HEAVY? ENCOMPASS, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW DO WE PLAN TO FUNCTION WITH A FULLY STAFFED EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND A FRONTLINE STAFF AT 30%? FOUR, WHAT CAN WE DO TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN FRONTLINE STAFF AND MANAGEMENT? FIVE, WHY ARE WE PAYING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO CONSULTANTS WHERE THE VOICES OF OUR COUNTY EXPERTS ARE NOT BEING CENTERED, HEARD, OR PROVOKED? WE COME HERE TODAY ASKING LEADERSHIP TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISUSE OF MONEY AND POWER.
WE ASK LEADERSHIP TO PUT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS FIRST AND WORK FROM A TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIVE APPROACH RATHER THAN THE REACTIVE AND IRRESPONSIBLE APPROACH WE HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, ALL.
I'M A SENIOR LAB ASSISTANT AND A PHLEBOTOMIST AT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY, SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR PATIENTS.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF SUPPORT FROM MY FELLOW MEDICAL ASSISTANTS, PHLEBOTOMISTS, AND PROVIDERS THAT SERVE OUR PATIENTS.
AS A FRONTLINE SERVICE WORKER, MY DECISIONS ON HOW I SERVE PATIENTS AT THE LAB HAPPENS DAILY.
AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, YOU CAN DECIDE ON JUNE 10TH HOW TO BEST SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY AND HELP PATIENTS THAT ARE SEEN AT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY.
[INHALES] I'M PRETTY CONCERNED WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT HSA ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT ON THE TABLE.
AND SOME MAJOR POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP BY THE COMMUNITY THAT I WORK WITH ARE AS FOLLOWS.
SOME MAJOR POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR PATIENTS ARE THAT, WITHOUT A LAB, PATIENTS WILL HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT A LIMITED NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL DRAW SITES IN THE AREA, WHICH USUALLY TAKES ABOUT A WEEK, AT LEAST, FROM SCHEDULING DATE.
IF A WALK-IN APPOINTMENT IS NEEDED, THE TYPICAL WAIT AT A COMMERCIAL SITE IS 1 TO 3 HOURS AND WITHOUT A GUARANTEE OF BEING DRAWN THAT DAY.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WE SEE IS RESCHEDULING FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN RAMPANTLY, WHICH WILL DELAY PATIENT DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.
PATIENT FRUSTRATION IS GOING TO INCREASE DUE TO THE COMMERCIAL, I CALL IT ATTITUDE, WITH THEIR INEXPERIENCE WITH OUR DEMOGRAPHICS, AND HANDLING THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF OUR PATIENT POPULATION.
AND THIS IS GOING TO RESULT IN PATIENTS REFUSING TO GET LABS DONE.
I MUST SAY THAT I WORKED WITH OVER 300 PHLEBOTOMISTS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WHEN I WAS A REGIONAL TRAINER AT QUEST IN...
- WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE THAT WANNA DO...
THAT WANT TO HAVE THEIR TWO MINUTES AS WELL.
- [INAUDIBLE] [SILENCE] - HELLO, MY NAME'S JANELLE NORMAN, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING GEMMA'S CLINICAL PROGRAM MANAGER.
I HAVE WORKED WITHIN THIS POSITION FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS AND HAVE WORKED IN THE FIELD OF ADDICTION SINCE 2020 WITH NEW LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS OF WORKING AT GEMMA, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS THE RESILIENCY OF THE WOMEN WE SERVE AS THEY FIGHT TO TAKE BACK THEIR LIVES FROM RECIDIVISM.
I HAVE BEEN A WITNESS TO THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND RESOURCES THAT WORK BESIDE THEIR CLIENTS TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR TIME OF GROWTH.
WITHIN THE STRUCTURE WE PROVIDE, CLIENTS HAVE THE SUPPORT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN DIRECT CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT THAT IS CATERED TOWARDS GENDER SPECIFIC ISSUES AND CARE.
OUR PROGRAM IS UNIQUE, AS IT IS ONE OF THE ONLY REENTRY PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES TO OFFER GENDER SPECIFIC CARE.
GEMMA OFFERS A RARE BUT IMPORTANT SERVICE WHERE WOMEN CAN FIND SUPPORT IN THEIR SOBRIETY
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FROM SUBSTANCE USE WHILE BEING GIVEN THE STRUCTURE TO REBUILD AND LEARN HEALTHIER WAYS OF LIVING LIFE.GEMMA IS VITAL TO THE COMMUNITY AND HAS BEEN A STRUCTURE THAT HAS WITHSTAND DIFFERING ADVERSITIES IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, THAT SANTA CRUZ HAS FACED WITHIN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
TO BE WITHOUT THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE A GREAT DETRIMENT TO THE JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN THAT ARE IN NEED OF ANOTHER CHANCE OF RESTARTING A LIFE OF SOBRIETY.
GEMMA ALSO IS NOT ONLY INVOLVED IN RESTORATION, BUT ALSO IN THE PREVENTION OF WOMEN CONTINUING THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS.
GEMMA OFFERS A REFUGE WHERE WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO HOUSE AND HOLD WOMEN AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR CONTINUATION OF HOUSING AFTER THEY COMPLETE AND/OR TRANSITION FROM OUR PROGRAM.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LOSS THAT WILL COME IF THIS PROGRAM IS TO CEASE TO EXIST.
PLEASE KNOW THAT GEMMA HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND IF POSSIBLE, CAN CONTINUE TO PERSIST TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THE RESILIENT EFFORTS TO STOP RECIDIVISM AND HOMELESSNESS.
[CLAPPING] [SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING.
I'M THE INTAKE COORDINATOR FOR GEMMA.
I'VE BEEN WORKING THERE FOR 4 YEARS AND IT'S BEEN ENLIGHTENING FOR ME, BUT IN THE LAST... WE ARE THE ONLY ALL WOMEN FACILITY IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, WHICH IS VERY RARE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE ALSO AWARD-WINNING FACILITY.
WE WORK WITH WRP, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, FRIENDS OUTSIDE, AND OTHER CONJUNCTIONS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP OUR WOMEN STAY SOBER.
I GO INTO THE JAIL AND I INTERVIEW WOMEN INSIDE THE JAIL.
I TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR SOBRIETY.
I TALK TO THEM ABOUT MAKING CHANGES.
MANY OF THESE WOMEN HAVE SPENT ALMOST 20 YEARS IN JAIL IF YOU, ALL ACCUMULATED IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES.
AND WHEN THEY GET TO SANTA CRUZ, WE ARE THERE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR SOBRIETY AND MAKING CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES.
SO WE TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THEM IN THE FUTURE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT MOST OF OUR WOMEN THAT WE TALK TO HAVE EITHER BEEN RAPED OR MOLESTED OR HAD INCEST IN THEIR LIVES.
THIS, SOME OF THAT HAS CAUSED THEM TO GO INTO DRUG ADDICTION.
BECAUSE WE SUPPORT THEM INSIDE THE JAIL AND OUTSIDE THE JAIL, WE'RE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE SET UP THERAPISTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE SET UP GOING TO MEETINGS, THEY HAVE SET UP ALL THEIR MEDICAL STUFF OUTSIDE OF THE GEMMA TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS, AFTER THEY FINISH THEIR 3 MONTHS OR 6 MONTHS, THEY'RE RELEASED.
AND THEN WHAT ARE THEY GONNA BE RELEASED TO? WE KNOW THE HOUSING CRISIS IN SANTA CRUZ IS HORRENDOUS, SO WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU'LL RECONSIDER OUR, UM, OUR MONEY AND KEEP OUR PROGRAM GOING FOR OUR WOMEN.
[SILENCE] - HI, MY NAME IS ANNIE, AND I ALSO WORK AT THE GEMMA HOUSE.
I HAVE WORKED IN VARIOUS SOCIAL SERVICES, IN THE LAST 16 YEARS, I'VE BEEN HERE IN SANTA CRUZ AND I'M ESPECIALLY HONORED TO WORK AT THE GEMMA HOUSE AT THIS TIME.
I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS WOMEN SUPPORTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND THIS PROGRAM OFFERS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT OFFERED IN OTHER TYPES OF SOBER LIVING ENVIRONMENTS, WHERE THERE IS STRUCTURE ENOUGH TO CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND SET PEOPLE UP FOR A NEXT CHAPTER IN THEIR LIFE, NOT ONLY REDUCING RECIDIVISM, BUT ALSO PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM GOING INTO THE INCARCERAL SYSTEM TO BEGIN WITH.
IT GIVES WOMEN AND WOMEN-IDENTIFIED FOLKS A FRAME OF REFERENCE, A PLACE TO LOOK BACK TO WHETHER THEY, UH, GRADUATE THE PROGRAM OR NOT.
THEY HAVE A, UH, A REFERENCE POINT OF A POSITIVE SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, WHERE I JUST KEEP HEARING STORIES.
I'VE ONLY WORKED THERE SINCE THE FALL OF LAST YEAR, ENDLESS STORIES FOR THE PAST MULTIPLE DECADES THAT THIS PLACE HAS BEEN HELPING WOMEN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I DO THINK IT WOULD BE A SINCERE SHAME THAT YOU ALL WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IF THIS PROGRAM WAS DISCONTINUED.
[SILENCE] - HI, MY NAME'S CRYSTAL ROSS, AND I'M A GRADUATE OF THE GEMMA PROGRAM, AND I'VE ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS A GUEST SPEAKER FOR THE JUSTICE AND GENDER COMMISSION.
RECENTLY, I'VE LEARNED THAT THERE IS SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR BOTH THE PROGRAMS. I'M WRITING TO URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS DECISION.
THE WOMEN WHO BENEFIT FROM THESE PROGRAMS ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
RESOURCES AND FEMALES SEEKING REHABILITATION IN SANTA CRUZ, AND SUPPORT IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.
THESE PROGRAMS HAVE MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE,
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AND I KNOW THEY HAVE CHANGED THE LIVES OF MANY OTHERS.WITHOUT THEM, MANY OF US WOULD HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN.
PERSONALLY, I BENEFITED IMMENSELY FROM BOTH THE GEMMA PROGRAM AND JAG.
THE GEMMA PROGRAM PROVIDED ME WITH SAFE...
A SAFE AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN AND WHICH I COULD REBUILD MY LIFE.
IT GAVE ME THE SUPPORT I NEEDED TO BECOME FUNCTIONING AND SELF-SUFFICIENT AND A MEMBER IN THE SOCIETY.
THE JAG COMMISSION, ON THE OTHER HAND, OFFERED ME A PLATFORM, ENSURED THE VOICE...
THE VOICES OF THOSE INCARCERATED WERE HEARD AND ADVOCATED FOR IF NECESSARY.
THE GEMMA PROGRAM GAVE ME THE SPACE TO PRIORITIZE MY OWN HEALING.
IT HELPED ME LEARN TO LOVE MYSELF AGAIN, TO MANAGE LIFE CHALLENGES WITHOUT RESORTING TO SUBSTANCE USE OR DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR.
THERE'S NO OTHER PROGRAM LIKE GEMMA.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE WOMEN CAN TRULY REBUILD, REGAIN THE TRUST FROM THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND FIND RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE.
IF YOU MAKE IT THROUGH THE GEMMA PROGRAM, YOU EMERGE STRONGER, MORE STABLE, AND EQUIPPED TO TAKE ON CHALLENGES OF EVERYDAY LIFE.
YOU GAIN SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE AND...
THAT ONCE SEEMED OUT OF REACH.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE FARREACHING IMPACT THESE PROGRAMS HAVE ON WOMEN'S... THE WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE GEMMA PROGRAM AND THE JAG COMMISSION ARE NOT HELPING...
ARE NOT JUST HELPING INDIVIDUALS.
THEY ARE STRENGTHENING OUR COUNTRY AS A WHOLE, OR OUR COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
I ASK YOU TO, I ASK YOU TO CONTINUE FUNDING THESE VITAL SERVICES AND ENSURE WOMEN LIKE ME HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT HAVE MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN LIVES.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
MY NAME IS KIMBERLY WALLER, AND I WORK AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
I AM THE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM COORDINATOR, AND I AM HERE TO PROCLAIM MAY AS A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLBEING, AND MENTAL ILLNESS, AND IS A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, WITH ABOUT 1 IN 5 ADULTS EXPERIENCING SOME FORM OF MENTAL ILLNESS EACH YEAR AND AN ALARMING NUMBER OF TEENS AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION.
AND WHEREAS APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF OF CHRONIC MEL...
CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS BEGINS BY THE AGE OF 14 AND THREE-QUARTERS BY THE AGE OF 24.
AND EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND RECOVERY.
AND WHEREAS WITH EFFECTIVE TREATMENT, RECOVERY AND HOPE ARE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
AND THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DESERVE AFFORDABLE ACCESS AND TREATMENT...
ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND RESOURCES.
AND WHEREAS EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS DECREASES STIGMA AND PROMOTES A CULTURE OF COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, AND PROGRESS.
AND EVERY CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HELPING END THE SILENCE AND STIGMA THAT FOR TOO LONG HAS SURROUNDED MENTAL ILLNESS AND DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GETTING HELP.
AND WHEREAS PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PREVENTIVE... AND PREVENTION ARE EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REDUCE THE BURDENS ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES.
AND WE ALL SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP ANYONE WITH SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESSES AND TO HELP PROMOTE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL WELLNESS.
AND WHEREAS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PROVIDES ESSENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH ITS HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION, LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING CRISIS INTERVENTION, COUNSELING, AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS.
[LAUGHTER] [SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING.
I'M A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER AT, UM, AT THE COUNTY.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TODAY TO SAVE OUR SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATOR POSITION.
CURRENT BUDGET CALLS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THIS POSITION.
IT WAS FUNDED THROUGH SAMHSA AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DUE TO SUNSET ON 08/31.
IN THE LAST MEETING, YOU ALL...
YOU ALL APPROVED OUR SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE, BUT IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THIS SUICIDE STRATEGIC PLAN AND IT- ITS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OUTLINED IN THE PLAN WE NEED A SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATOR.
WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN DEVELOPING A LOSS TEAM WITH SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES OF THE CENTRAL COAST.
WE'VE ALREADY TRAINED 48 PEOPLE IN CAMS, WHICH IS COLLABORATIVE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF SUICIDALITY.
THESE WERE IN OUR... THESE ARE PART OF OUR GOALS.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO MENTION, TO...
I'M SORRY, TO MEASURE PREVENTION EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY IN A NASCENT PROGRAM, BUT WE SAW A DECLINE IN SUICIDE FROM 2023 TO 2024, AND WE HOPE TO SEE A CONTINUATION OF THIS TREND.
I'VE SENT YOU ALL EMAILS WITH HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATOR AND LINKS TO THE SUICIDE PREVENTION PLANS,
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BOTH FROM 2019 AND 2024.I ALSO WANT TO INVITE YOU TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, FIRST FRIDAY, CHALK QUILT FROM 5:00 TO 8:00 PM AT COOPER AND PACIFIC STREET ON THIS FRIDAY.
AND KIM ORGANIZED THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND THRIVING.
WHO IS CARLOS? CARLOS IS HERE? YEAH, OKAY.
I HAVE BOOKS FOR YOUR LITTLE GIRL, PINOCCHIO.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA BE SITTING ON THE STREET AND GET YOU KNOW WHAT? OKAY, SO HERE THIS IS FOR MANU'S LITTLE GIRL, HAVING HAD NO WARNING YET, MANU.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO PULLED A PROGRAM FOLLOW-UP.
I GAVE MANU A COPY, OF CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD.
VERY IMPORTANT TO READ THIS BECAUSE A MAN WILL KNEEL DOWN; LOST TO GOD ASK THE LORD TO... FOR THE HELP OF FRIENDS.
OKAY, SO THERE'S THIS BOOK WITH...
SO THAT'S FOR CARLOS OVER HERE...
[INAUDIBLE] I'M GONNA SAY, YOU KNOW, I GO THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I DO, BUT I THINK, UM...
CAN YOU DELIVER THIS TO MANU? PINOCCHIO... AND YOU GET THAT.
YOU CAN READ THIS VOLUME, TOO.
[INAUDIBLE] FORRESTERS, NICE TO MEET YOU.
WHY WOULD YOU CUT PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING ALREADY? MY HUSBAND KILLED HIMSELF 5 YEARS AGO.
HE GOT A [INAUDIBLE] AFTER SURVIVING 9/11.
AND I DIDN'T WANNA EVEN TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WAS ON THE AGENDA.
9/11, WE WERE THERE AND, UH, EVERYTHING ELSE.
WELL, WHOOPS, YOUR LABORATORY [INAUDIBLE].
BUT I THINK I WANNA BREAK OUT IN A SONG.
♪ WHAT IF GOD WAS ONE OF US. ♪ ♪ JUST A SLOB LIKE... UM, AH... ME.♪ THE FIRST TIME WAS HARD ANYWAY.
AND I DO BELIEVE THIS COMMUNITY'S IN NEED OF REALLY GOOD CHEER 'CAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE REALLY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AND THEY NEED THEIR COMMUNITY.
- THAT'S WHO I TALK TO, MANUEL BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T CALL ME BACK ANYWAY.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING.
I'M A RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT UCSC, AND I'VE HAD THE HONOR AS SERVING AS STAFF TO THE COMMISSION ON JUSTICE AND GENDER SINCE IT WAS CREATED BY THIS BOARD IN 2020.
CREATED TO CONFRONT THE TRAUMA OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND INCARCERATION.
JAG WORKS TO RECOGNIZE AND BETTER MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE MOTHERS.
THREE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE GUIDED BY RECOMMENDATIONS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THIS BOARD.
MY ROLE IS TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION, FACILITATING SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS, PARTNERING WITH CO-CHAIRS, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS, AND HELPING RECRUIT AND PREPARE GUEST SPEAKERS.
AT THE HEART OF JAG IS THE PRINCIPLE: "NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US." WE CENTER THE VOICES OF WOMEN WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WHO ARE COMPENSATED TO SPEAK AT OUR MEETINGS.
THEY ARE OUR TEACHERS SHAPING AND STRENGTHENING THIS WORK.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO WOMEN IN OUR JAILS FOR 30 YEARS, AND THE MORE I LEARN, THE HARDER IT IS TO WALK AWAY AND PRETEND IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM.
[PAUSE] BUT JAG IS NOT ABOUT ME.
IT'S A COMMUNITY LED BY WOMEN COMMITTED TO REDUCING HARM TO WOMEN CYCLING THROUGH OUR JAILS.
[PAUSE] JAG INCLUDES 16 COMMISSIONERS AND REGULARLY DRAWS 40 TO 50 PARTICIPANTS AT COMMISSION MEETINGS.
JUST 4 DAYS AGO, WE LEARNED THE JAG BUDGET IS RECOMMENDED FOR ELIMINATION.
DEFUNDING JAG WITHOUT A TRANSITION PLAN, RISKS SILENCING COMMUNITY VOICES, AND DISMANTLING A COMMISSION THAT IS DRIVING MEANINGFUL SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
I UNDERSTAND THESE ARE DIFFICULT FISCAL TIMES, BUT I URGE YOU TO PROTECT THIS WORK ON BEHALF OF SOME OF THE MOST MARGINALIZED WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WOMEN WHO ARE SURVIVORS OF ABUSE, SEXUAL ASSAULT,
[00:35:01]
AND VIOLENCE, OFTEN AT THE HANDS OF MEN, WOMEN WHOSE VOICES ARE LOCKED AWAY IN A SYSTEM THAT TOO OFTEN DEEPENS THEIR TRAUMA.THIS IS ABOUT WOMEN AND THE MEN WHO, MEN WHO STAND WITH US.
- [INAUDIBLE] VIOLENCE ON GENDER.
- GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS NICOLE BRANTLEY, AND I REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I STOOD HERE ADVOCATING FOR THE RETURN OF FAMILY TIME IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAILS.
TODAY I RETURN WITH ANOTHER URGENT APPEAL.
I URGE YOU NOT TO CUT FUNDING TO THE JAG AND GENDER COMMISSION.
JUSTICE AND GENDER COMMISSION.
THE JAG PROGRAM IS NOT JUST ANOTHER LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
IT IS A LIFELINE TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE TOO OFTEN OVERLOOKED, SILENCED BY THE STIGMA OF INCARCERATION.
I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THOSE WOMEN.
JAG EQUIPS WOMEN, ESPECIALLY MOTHERS, WITH THE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND SUPPORT THEY NEED NOT JUST TO SURVIVE, BUT TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AFTER JAIL.
CUTTING THIS FUNDING WOULD MEAN CUTTING OFF HOPE, DIGNITY, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE POWER OF THIS PROGRAM, HOW IT HELPS WOMEN FIND THEIR VOICE, RECLAIM THEIR STRENGTH, AND BEGIN AGAIN WITH PURPOSE.
I'M NOT JUST AN ADVOCATE, I'M LIVING PROOF THAT SUPPORT AFTER INCARCERATION CHANGES LIVES.
JUSTICE DOES NOT END AT THE JAILHOUSE DOOR.
IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN REHABILITATION, EQUITY, AND SAFETY, WE MUST INVEST IN PROGRAMS LIKE THE JAG THAT TURN BELIEF INTO ACTION.
PROTECT THE JAG COMMISSION, PROTECT WOMEN, PROTECT JUSTICE, AND REMEMBER THIS, HISTORY WILL REMEMBER WHAT YOU CHOOSE TODAY.
I'M A MOTHER, COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND DIRECTOR OF THE PARENT CENTER, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO FULLY FUND THE JUSTICE AND GENDER COMMISSION.
MY PARTNER TAUGHT ME ABOUT THIS CONCEPT CALLED THE VEIL OF IGNORANCE.
BASICALLY, YOU IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE BORN AS THE MOST MARGINALIZED PERSON IN SOCIETY.
IN OUR CURRENT SOCIETY THINK DISABLED, POOR, FAT, QUEER, NEURODIVERGENT, TRANS, BLACK WOMAN, A SEX WORKER WHO IS CURRENTLY INCARCERATED AND STRUGGLES WITH HOUSELESSNESS, SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL ILLNESS.
AND THEN YOU CREATE SYSTEMS, LAWS, AND SOCIETAL STRUCTURES THAT CENTER THEIR NEEDS.
I ENCOURAGE THIS BOARD TO UTILIZE THIS THOUGHT EXPERIMENT AS YOU EXAMINE THE CURRENT BUDGET.
WHILE I'M NOT SURE OF EXACTLY ALL THE CHANGES THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO, I DO KNOW ONE.
YOU WOULD FULLY FUND THE JUSTICE AND GENDER COMMISSION BECAUSE IF JAG IS NOT TALKING ABOUT INCARCERATED WOMEN, WHO IS? I COULD TELL YOU ABOUT WHY TALKING ABOUT GENDER AND INCARCERATION MATTERS, AND I COULD TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT THE JAG COMMISSION HAS DONE, WHICH IS A LOT, BUT I WANT TO SH-... WHAT I WANNA SHARE TODAY IS ABOUT THE INTANGIBLE VALUE THAT JAG HOLDS.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, JAG IS THE MOST ACTIVE AND WELL-ATTENDED COMMISSION IN THE COUNTY WITH 16 APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS, 30 TO 45 PEOPLE ATTENDING MEETINGS, AND THREE WORKING SUBCOMMITTEES OF 8 TO 12 MEMBERS EACH.
WHY? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT JAG IS HAVING ARE IMPORTANT, PROFOUND, AND NOT HAPPENING ANYWHERE ELSE.
MORE THAN THAT, THE WORK THAT JAG IS DOING IS NOT JUST CHANGING OUR SYSTEMS, IT IS CHANGING US.
JAG'S WORK LEADS US INTO A MORE COMPASSIONATE, MORE PERSON-CENTERED, MORE TRAUMA-INFORMED, MORE EQUITABLE WORLD, THE WORLD THAT WE ALL ACTUALLY WANT TO LIVE IN.
AND THAT IS WHY WE ALL KEEP COMING BACK.
THAT IS WHY WE SHOW UP, AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.
BECAUSE WE WANNA BUILD A WORLD IN WHICH NOBODY EVER FEELS FORGOTTEN, DISCARDED, OR INVALUABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
JAG CULTIVATES THE HOPE THAT THAT WORLD COULD EXIST.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US.
PLEASE DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON WOMEN.
PLEASE DON'T SILENCE THE VOICES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE CREATING CHANGE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED SPACES LIKE JAG NOW MORE THAN EVER.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS.
MY NAME IS SHERYL NORTEYE, AND I PROUDLY SERVE AS COMMISSIONER ON THE JUSTICE AND GENDER COMMISSION.
IF THEY DON'T GIVE YOU A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BRING A FOLDING CHAIR.
THESE ARE THE WISE WORDS OF SHIRLEY CHISHOLM.
THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN ELECTED TO CONGRESS, AND HER WORDS RESONATES DEEPLY WITH THE WORK WE DO ON THE COMMISSION.
THE JAG COMMISSION IS THAT FOLDING CHAIR FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE SURVIVED VIOLENCE, INCARCERATION, AND DEEP-ROOTED SYSTEMS THAT WERE NEVER DESIGNED TO SEE THEM THRIVE.
THAT'S IN THE BUDGET THAT FUNDS THIS WORK IS A DECISION THAT ERASES THE ONLY PLATFORM CREATED SPECIFICALLY TO CENTER THE VOICES OF WOMEN IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
[00:40:01]
A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE HEARD FROM A MOM WHO HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM BLAINE STREET.SHE TOLD US THAT BEING INVITED TO OUR MEETING TO SHARE HER STORY, BEING PAID FOR HER TIME, BEING COMPENSATED FOR HER TRUTH WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE FELT HER EXPERIENCE WASN'T JUST PAIN.
AND THAT SPARKED THE TURNING POINT IN HER HEALING JOURNEY.
WHAT THIS COMMISSION DOES ISN'T SYMBOLIC.
THAT IS WHAT THESE DOLLARS DO.
THE COMMISSION IS AN ENGINE LEADING THE WORK AROUND REENTRY, HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FAMILY REUNIFICATION.
AND WE'VE DONE IT ALL WITHOUT CANCELING A SINGLE MEETING IN THE LAST 4 YEARS.
WHY? BECAUSE WE SHOW UP NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR THE WOMEN THAT SOCIETY TRIES TO FORGET.
WE ASK PLAINLY, PRESERVE THIS FUNDING, LET WOMEN SPEAK, LET THEIR STORIES SHAPE SOLUTIONS, AND LET THIS COMMISSION CONTINUE THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK WE WERE CREATED TO DO.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I WORK FOR MONARCH SERVICES, AND I'M A SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE JUSTICE AND GENDER COMMISSION.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ONE VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT WAS BORN FROM THE JUSTICE AND GENDER COMMISSION, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
IN 2021, SAFE RELEASE BECAME A PROGRAM OF MONARCH SERVICES THAT PROVIDES EVERY FEMALE-IDENTIFYING WOMAN PERSON LEAVING SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL WITH AT LEAST ONE NIGHT OF MOTEL VOUCHER, ALONG WITH ESSENTIAL ITEMS SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION DEVICES, SYSTEM NAVIGATION SERVICES AND ADVOCACY, AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
THIS PROGRAM EXISTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WOMEN LEAVING CUSTODY ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AT RISK OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AS WELL AS RECIDIVISM.
THE PROGRAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY PREVENTED VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE SERVED OVER 200 WOMEN IN THIS PROGRAM SINCE 2021, AND WE WORK VERY COLLABORATIVELY ACROSS COUNTY PROGRAMS, CBOS IN OUR COMMUNITY, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
THE COMMISSION IS, AS CHERYL NOTED, NOT JUST, UM, SYMBOLIC, BUT REAL CHANGE AND PREVENTION IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE COMMISSION AND THOSE WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY OR EVERY COMMISSION MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN CONSIDERING IN THE, UH, CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE COMMISSION.
SPEAKING TOWARDS CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE JUSTICE AND GENDER COMMISSION SANTA CRUZ.
IT WOULD TAKE MUCH LONGER THAN TWO MINUTES HERE TO DETAIL THE GOALS OF JAG AND ALL OF ITS UNIQUE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WERE ONCE GOALS.
[PAUSE] I WILL SAY THAT MY LIFE WAS PROTECTED AND I WAS PROTECTED FROM ASSAULT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE SAFE RELEASE PROGRAM CREATED BY JAG AND MONARCH SERVICES.
MY FOCUS HERE, HOWEVER, WILL BE ON ONE GOOD WORD FOR THE CONVERSATION.
JAG'S MEETINGS AND MOVEMENTS ARE ABUNDANT WITH PEOPLE, IDEAS, AND REAL-WORLD NECESSARY APPLICATIONS.
THE GOOD WORK OF JAG WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE INVALUABLE AND WHOLEHEARTED LEADERSHIP OF DR. SUSAN GREEN.
EVERY LEADER I SPEAK WITH IN THIS ROOM MUST KNOW THE NECESSITY OF PRESENT AND EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN THE ENACTMENT OF POSITIVE SOCIAL PROGRESS.
THE DECISION YOU HAVE HERE IS ONE OF IMPACT.
DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS IN JUNE, YOU WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO HAVE A CONSTRUCTIVE IMPACT ON WOMEN AND ON THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE OR FOR YOUR IMPACT TO BE DESTRUCTIVE AND ADVERSE.
I ASK YOU ALL TO BE AWARE OF AND STEER CLEAR FROM THE OUTDATED, EXHAUSTED NARRATIVE THAT LIED WHEN TELLING US THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE THE LAST TO RECEIVE SERVICES, AND THE FIRST TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES TAKEN.
I ASK FOR YOUR CHOICES TO BE SOUND, FOR YOU ALL TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE AND TO BE A PART OF A BETTER NARRATIVE, SPEAKING TO THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN, THE SAFETY, AND THE LIVES OF WOMEN MATTER.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEEP CONSIDERATION TOWARDS BEING PART OF GREAT AND LASTING IMPACT.
I WORK AS A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST AT THE COUNTY HEALTH CLINICS, AND I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO SPEAK ON THE COUNTY'S PROPOSED BUDGET PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR.
SPECIFICALLY, THE PLAN TO CUT OUR LAB AND X-RAY DEPARTMENTS.
THE PATIENTS I SEE FOR MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY ARE OFTEN PRESCRIBED PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS, MANY OF WHICH REQUIRE REGULAR LAB TESTING IN ORDER TO ENSURE MED DOSES ARE APPROPRIATE.
IF A PERSON IS UNABLE TO GET THESE TESTS DONE, IT OPENS THE DOOR TO MEDICATION BEING EFFECTIVE OR EVEN HARMFUL.
[00:45:01]
IT ALSO MAKES IT HARDER FOR OUR PSYCHIATRY TEAM TO PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE.PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS FOR MANY PEOPLE ARE QUITE LITERALLY LIFESAVING.
SO POOR ACCESS TO LAB TESTING REPRESENTS A MASSIVE HEALTH CONCERN.
IF WE CUT OUR LAB AND X-RAY SERVICES AT THE COUNTY HEALTH CLINICS, OUR PATIENTS WILL NEED TO GET TESTING DONE ELSEWHERE.
FOR SOME OF OUR PATIENTS, THAT WILL WORK JUST FINE.
I AM HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT FOR MANY OF OUR PATIENTS, THIS SIMPLY WILL NOT WORK.
EVERY DAY, I PROVIDE THERAPY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNHOUSED, WHO HAVE NO MONTHLY INCOME, WHO HAVE NO ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, WHO ARE ANXIOUS AND FEARFUL IN NEW ENVIRONMENTS, WHO ARE DEPRESSED AND STRUGGLE TO COMPLETE SIMPLE DAILY TASKS, AND MUCH MORE.
FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS, ACCESSING LAB SERVICES ELSEWHERE WILL RANGE FROM DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE.
THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, IF ACCEPTED, WILL LEAD TO PEOPLE NEEDING LAB TESTING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET IT.
IT WILL LEAD TO WORSENED HEALTH OUTCOMES.
IT WILL SHIFT THE HEALTHCARE BURDEN FROM PREVENTATIVE CARE AT CLINICS TO EMERGENCY CARE AT HOSPITALS, SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW IS MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
I RECOGNIZE THAT TIMES ARE HARD AND AREN'T GETTING EASIER, BUT THE WHOLE POINT OF THE COUNTY HEALTH CLINICS IS TO PROVIDE CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T RECEIVE IT ELSEWHERE.
I WOULD IMPLORE THE BOARD TO REJECT THIS PROPOSAL AND TO CONSIDER OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT KEEP COUNTY CLINIC PATIENTS IN COUNTY CLINICS.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SANTA CRUZ GARDENS, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM 7, THE ISSUE OF REZONING A LOT OF THE PARCELS FOR HOUSING, SPECIFICALLY THE COUNTY PARK SITE AT 3161 PRATHER LANE.
THAT'S A PARCEL NUMBER, UH, 02509152.
NOW, IN 2022 THAT- THAT SAME PARCEL WAS CONSIDERED AS AN ALTERNATIVE SITE FOR THE PARK HAVEN PLAZA PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT, WHICH I'M SURE, AS YOU KNOW IS NEARING COMPLETION NOW IN, UM, IN APTOS.
IN A REPORT PREPARED BY R.L. HASTINGS AND CERTIFIED BY ASSISTANT PLANNING DIRECTOR STEPHANIE HANSON.
I'LL READ BRIEFLY FROM THE REPORT, I HAVE A COPY FOR THE CLERK.
THE PARCEL IS A PARK SITE ACQUIRED BY THE COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT MANY YEARS AGO USING OPEN SPACE FUNDS FROM THE STATE.
IF THE SITE WERE TO BE DEVELOPED, THAT STATE PARKS GRANT WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID BACK, AND VARIOUS OTHER POLICY, LEGAL REGULATORY ACTIONS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES WOULD BE REQUIRED.
THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A RIPARIAN CORRIDOR, WHICH PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT DRAINAGE AREA FOR STORMWATER IN THE AREA AND IS UNBUILDABLE, SENSITIVE HABITAT.
IF THE PROPERTY WERE FORMALLY DECLARED TO BE SURPLUS COUNTY PROPERTY, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO A HOUSING DEVELOPER OR FOR ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENT, THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES IN THE SURPLUS LANDS ACT, WHICH ARE USUALLY QUITE TIME-CONSUMING.
THE REPORT CONCLUDES BUILDING ON THAT PARCEL IS NOT FEASIBLE.
SO ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORS IN SANTA CRUZ GARDENS, WE NEED MORE PARK SPACE, NOT LESS, ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANY PEOPLE COMING INTO THE, TO THE AREA AND THE COUNTY.
SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE, TO AT LEAST SEPARATE THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL FROM THE PACKAGE THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING FOR REZONING.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING BOARD.
MY NAME IS LAURA MCCLAIN AND I'M AN ASSOCIATE ANALYST WITH THE FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES DIVISION OF THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO THANK THE BOARD FOR PROCLAIMING APRIL AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH, AND I WANNA READ ONE STATEMENT FROM THE PROCLAMATION.
[PAUSE] "ALL FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE ARE UNACCEPTABLE AND PREVENTABLE, AND WE CAN ALL HELP PREVENT CHILD ABUSE BY SUPPORTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROVIDE CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES WITH THE ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH AND WELLBEING, SUPPORT THAT AID IN THE PREVENTION OF ABUSE AND BY RESPONDING TO FAMILIES IN CRISIS AND LINKING THEM TO THE NEEDED SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES." [PAUSE] THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PROCLAMATION, AND THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS AND FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
MY NAME IS STACEY PALAU, AND I'M THE CEO OF NEW LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICES.
FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS, NEW LIFE HAS HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY AND PRIVILEGE OF MANAGING THE GEMMA PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY.
GEMMA IS A TRANSITIONAL HOME FOR WOMEN, AND YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT ALREADY THIS MORNING.
AND DURING THIS TIME, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH COUNTY SUDS, PROBATION, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND NUMEROUS OTHER ENTITIES TO HELP PROVIDE SERVICES AND A SAFE HOME FOR WOMEN IN NEED.
[00:50:01]
OVER THE PAST 7 YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN MANY WOMEN BENEFIT FROM THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING IN A HOME SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED FOR WOMEN.RECENTLY, NEW LIFE WAS INFORMED THAT THE COUNTY WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO FUND THE GEMMA PROGRAM DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY HAVE...
THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION.
I DO NOT ENVY YOUR POSITION AS SUPERVISORS, AS YOU NOW NAVIGATE COMPETING DEMANDS, CONSIDERING GREAT PROGRAMS AND BALANCING OUR COUNTY BUDGET.
SO MY REQUEST TO YOU, SUPERVISORS, IS SIMPLE.
PLEASE KEEP THE BEDS AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN IN NEED.
PERHAPS THERE IS FUNDING THROUGH HOUSING OR OTHER MEANS THAT MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR FUNDING A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM.
OUR VULNERABLE WOMEN NEED A SAFE PLACE AND OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR LIVES, AND THIS HOME CAN PROVIDE THAT SAFE PLACE.
I WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH ANY OF YOU FURTHER REGARDING THIS, THIS POSSIBILITY, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY, AND ESPECIALLY, UH, GOOD MORNING TO MANU KOENIG.
WE... I AND THE GROUP THAT CAME HERE, LIVE NEAR THE CORNERS OF CENTER AND MAINE AND WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING THERE ALREADY WITHOUT THIS NEW PROJECT THEY'RE PUTTING IN, UH, ON THAT CORNER.
THE ORIGINAL CONSENT WAS TO PUT IN THREE BUILDINGS AND NOW WE'RE HEARING WITH THE REZONING THAT YOU'RE ALL THINKING ABOUT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE MAYBE UP TO 10 OR 15.
AND THEN I'VE HEARD WORDS THAT A HALF AN ACRE CAN TAKE UP TO 15.
SO WE'RE ASKING ALL OF YOU TO THINK, ESPECIALLY MR. KOENIG, ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS FOR OUR KIDS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE'RE ALL VERY CONCERNED THAT YOU'LL DO THE RIGHT THING.
I'M A NURSE AT THE HOMELESS PERSONS HEALTH PROJECT AND EVERY DAY I CARE FOR SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M HERE TO OPPOSE CUTS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH ARE BEING SINGLED OUT BY THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
[PAUSE] YOU WON'T SEE THE HARM INITIALLY, BUT I WILL FEEL IT EVERY TIME I SEE A PATIENT LIMPING DOWN THE STREET WITH A BROKEN LEG BECAUSE THEY MISSED THEIR REFERRAL FOR IMAGING, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED WEEKS OUT, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE $2 TO GET ON A BUS TO MAKE THEIR APPOINTMENT.
I'LL FEEL IT WHEN HOMELESSNESS INEVITABLY RATCHETS UP DUE TO LACK OF CARE, LEAVING THE HOMELESS PERSON'S HEALTH PROJECT UNDERSTAFFED AND TRYING TO PICK UP THE PIECES OF A GROWING POPULATION OF TRAUMATIZED PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.
I'LL FEEL IT WHEN I SEE DISEASE SPREAD BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T GET AN APPOINTMENT IN AN OVERRUN QUEST LAB.
YOU WON'T FEEL IT UNTIL YOUR CONSTITUENTS COMPLAIN BECAUSE THERE'S AN ARTICLE IN LOOKOUT ABOUT RAGING GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE RUNNING RAMPANT.
CUTTING OUR LAB AND X-RAY TEAM WILL SEVERELY IMPACT OUR ALREADY OVERFLOWING LOCAL ERS, WILL HAVE MEASURABLE IMPACTS ON THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND DEEPLY IMPACT STAFF MORALE AT THE COUNTY AS WE LOSE THESE VALUABLE, TALENTED, CARING MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM.
MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO HEED THE EXPERTISE OF FRONTLINE STAFF INSTEAD OF MAKING POORLY THOUGHT-OUT CUTS DEVISED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING REMOTELY AND NEVER HAVE TO LOOK A SUFFERING PATIENT IN THE EYE.
PLEASE SAVE MHCAN, SAVE GEMMA HOUSE, SAVE DOW, SAVE JAG, SAVE COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, SAVE OUR LAB AND X-RAY EMPLOYEES, OR YOU WILL SEE THE EFFECTS OF YOUR CUTS ON THE STREETS EVERY DAY, AND SO WILL YOUR HOUSED CONSTITUENTS.
[PAUSE] I'M DR. BEN RAMSDEN-STEIN.
I WORK FOR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CLINICS.
I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME AT THE HOMELESS PERSONS HEALTH PROJECT AND ALSO AT THE EMELINE CLINIC.
I FIND IT REALLY SAD THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PROGRAMS THAT I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT ARE SO LIFESAVING AND AMAZING AND THE ONLY WAY THAT I'M FINDING OUT ABOUT THEM IS BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING SLOTTED FOR DEFUNDING, FROM WOMEN'S HEALTH, INCARCERATED HEALTH, SUICIDE PREVENTION, GENDER JUSTICE, AND MORE.
I JUST WANNA START WITH ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER THAT THE SALARY NECESSARY FOR MAXIMUM HAPPINESS IN SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA, IS $163,000.
ADMIN MAKES ROUTINELY MORE THAN THAT, AND IN THE WORDS OF NOTORIOUS B.I.G.
MO' MONEY MO' PROBLEMS. [PAUSE] MANY OF THE STAFF THAT I WORK WITH,
[00:55:01]
HAVE BEEN TALKING VERY GENEROUSLY ABOUT FURLOUGHS, MYSELF INCLUDED.WE WOULD DO THIS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE JOBS OF OUR, OUR, OUR COWORKERS IN LAB AND RADIOLOGY, AND MENTAL HEALTH.
BUT FURLOUGHS WITHOUT ADMIN PARTICIPATION WOULD BE MORALLY AND FINANCIALLY MEANINGLESS.
ADMIN WILL NEVER PROPOSE MEANINGFUL BUDGET CUTS TO THEMSELVES.
CUTS TO LAB, RADIOLOGY, AND MENTAL HEALTH ARE SHORTSIGHTED, WILL LOSE US MONEY, AND WORK INEFFICIENCIES AND INCREASE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS OVER ON OTHER STAFF, GETTING IN THE WAY OF SEEING MORE PATIENTS, PATIENTS LOST TO FOLLOW-UP, MORE AND MORE USE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, NOT TO MENTION EVEN MORE LOST REVENUE AND MISSING CARE-BASED INCENTIVES AND OTHER GRANTS FOR PROVIDING THESE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN SCAPEGOATING OF BLOATED ADMIN SALARIES AND INCOME INEQUALITY ON THOSE OF US WHO ACTUALLY PROVIDE DIRECT PATIENT CARE TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERVISOR HERNANDEZ, OR CHAIR HERNANDEZ, EXCUSE ME.
I WORK IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HERE IN 701 OCEAN STREET.
AND ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO, SEIU PUT A PIN IN THE CALENDAR DATE HERE THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THIS PROBLEM WITH PARKING HERE AT 701 THAT I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT, ALTHOUGH WITH RESERVED SPACES YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE LIKE THE MANAGEMENT AND LINE STAFF DO.
BUT THEN THINGS CHANGE, AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF VACANCIES HERE IN THE COUNTY, AND NOW THERE'S A STATE LAW THAT DEMANDS THAT WE WORK WITH THE, THE COUNTY MANAGEMENT ON THAT.
AND THEN THINGS CHANGED, AND NOW WE GET THIS HSA BUDGET, WHICH NOT ONLY HAS BEEN FULLY ARTICULATED BY OUR LINE STAFF AND THE GOOD DOCTOR, AS HE JUST SAID, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE THE PEN IN YOUR HAND, YOU SELDOM CROSS OFF YOUR NAME ON THAT LIST.
AND WE REALLY NEED YOU AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO EXERT YOUR AUTHORITY TO EXPLAIN TO EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT THAT SERVICES ARE THE PRIORITY AND THAT FUNDING NEEDS TO BE REDIRECTED TOWARDS DIRECT LINE SERVICES, AND IF THEY'RE GONNA START CROSSING OFF NAMES, WHY DON'T WE LOOK AT THE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS? WE HAVE A HUGE VACANCY RATE IN GENERAL SERVICES AND THE GENERAL LINE STAFF THAT DO THE DIRECT SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
PLEASE EXERT YOUR AUTHORITY AND REDIRECT THE PRO... THE PROGRAM ON THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, COUNTY SUPERVISORS.
I WANTED TO POINT TO THE, UM, WONDERFUL MAP OF OUR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY OVER HERE.
IT IS THE SECOND SMALLEST COUNTY IN OUR STATE AND IT HAS OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OR MORE OF VALUE TO OUR LOCAL AGRICULTURAL THAT, UH...
LOCAL AGRICULTURAL BRINGS IN THAT MUCH YEARLY.
[PAUSE] NEW LEAF ENERGY WANTS TO PUT 14 TO 16 ACRES OF ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LARGE AGRICULTURAL AREA IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
BORDERING ON LOW-INCOME HOUSING, SCHOOLS, HOMES, OUR FAIRGROUND, AND COLLEGE LAKE.
THREE YEARS AGO, KEARNY MESA BESS FACILITY DOWN NEAR SAN DIEGO WENT ONLINE.
ONE YEAR AGO TO DATE, APRIL 29TH, EXACTLY TODAY OF 2024, IT HAD A THERMAL RUNAWAY INCIDENT, MEANING ONE OF ITS SYSTEMS CAUGHT FIRE, RELEASING TOXIC HEAVY METAL MICROPARTICLES INTO THE AIR.
THIS FACILITY WAS BUILT WITH THE NEXT-GENERATION LFP TECHNOLOGY.
HOW LONG UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN? [PAUSE] TODAY, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO LIQUID LITHIUM-BASED ENERGY STORAGE.
NASA'S WORKING ON SOLID STATE.
THERE ARE ALSO MULTIPLE ALTERNATIVES TO ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM OPTIONS AVAILABLE, INCLUDING SODIUM ION, UM, KINETIC ENERGY.
THERE'S ALL THESE DIFFERENT STORAGE, THAT ARE BEING WORKED ON.
[PAUSE] WHY DOES NEW LEAF ENERGY STILL WANT TO USE LFP TECHNOLOGY? IT IS SIMPLE.
LFP MAKES THEM THE MOST MONEY.
I WOULD RATHER SEE OUR AGRICULTURAL PROFITS STAY IN OUR COUNTY AND NOT BE LOST, AND THANK YOU.
[01:00:01]
- GOOD... IT'S STILL MORNING.[PAUSE] I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE.
I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE FOR MHCAN.
[PAUSE] I'M 80 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE A REAL BAD SICKNESS, BUT JUST KNOWING THAT MHCAN IS THERE AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR ME, [PAUSE] I'M OKAY WITH MY LIFE.
IT ENCOURAGED ME AND GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DO.
I CAN GO UP THERE AND BE AROUND PEOPLE 'CAUSE I LOVE PEOPLE.
SARAH LEONARD, I HAVE TO MENTION HER NAME.
I'M NOT A VERY... I WAS NOT, AND STILL NOT A VERY EDUCATED PERSON, BUT THANKS TO HER AND MHCAN, I HAVE A LIFE TODAY.
I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO DO THINGS FOR MYSELF.
WHEN I WENT TO MHCAN, I'LL NEVER FORGET AS LONG AS I LIVE, I SAT AT THE DOOR, THE BACK DOOR...
I MEAN, THE FRONT DOOR THAT SHE CAME IN AND SHE ENCOURAGED ME.
I AM SOMEBODY TO THE... IN THERE AND I CAN SMILE AND SAY THAT THE THINGS THAT SHE DID FOR ME, [PAUSE] PEOPLE NEED TO STAY THERE AT MHCAN, MHCAN NEEDS TO BE THERE.
AND THE THINGS THAT SHE HAS DONE FOR MHCAN, SINCE I HAVE BEEN THERE AS AN EMPLOYEE AND A CLIENT, [PAUSE] IS A WONDERFUL THING.
YOU JUST HAVE TO HOLD ON AND BE STRONG AND, AND..
AND PUT YOURSELF OFF INTO MHCAN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR BODY BEING NASTY, ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS GO UP THERE AND TAKE A SHOWER.
WHAT WE WOULD SAY IS A LIVING SUCCESS STORY.
I WALKED IN THERE 10 YEARS AGO WITH... NEEDING SERVICES, WHILE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, SUFFERING UNSTABLE MENTAL ILLNESS, AND ALSO A DEATH SPIRAL DRUG ADDICTION.
TODAY, AS I STAND BEFORE YOU, I HAVE 10 YEARS AS A RECOVERED ADDICT.
I ALSO AM NO LONGER, UM, HOMELESS, AND MY MENTAL STABILITY IS... NOW, I HAVE COPING SKILLS AND I HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM.
AND THE LAST 8 YEARS I'VE BEEN EMPLOYED FULL-TIME AT THE WATER STREET GRILL RESTAURANT, WHERE I'M CURRENTLY THE MANAGER.
AND I STAND BEFORE YOU VERY PROUDLY AS AN ELECTED BOARD MEMBER OF MHCAN.
AND SO IF THAT'S NOT FULL CIRCLE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN REPRESENT MORE THAN THAT.
I'M ALSO HERE ON BEHALF OF, UH, HPHP, THE HOMELESS PERSONS HEALTH PROJECT, FOR I AM A, UH, THEY, I AM A PATIENT THERE AND I FALL IN THAT BRACKET NOW.
IF I MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY FOR MEDI-CAL, BUT I DON'T HAVE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE OFFERED TO ME THROUGH MY EMPLOYER.
SO I'M ON A SLIDING SCALE AND THAT WOULD BE TAKEN FROM ME AND THEN I WOULD HAVE NO HEALTHCARE AT ALL.
SO I JUST LIKE TO BE A PHYSICAL REPRESENTATION TO YOU.
PLEASE REMEMBER MY FACE, MY WORDS, AND MY VOICE WHEN YOU'RE DECIDING IF MHCAN IS A NECESSITY.
NOW, I AM A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY ONCE AGAIN, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT MHCAN AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN MY HEALTH IF I HADN'T HOMELESS PERSONS HEALTH PROJECT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
MY NAME IS BRANDON DINIZ, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE PAJARO VALLEY FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.
AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE TEACHERS IN THIS COUNTY STAND WITH OUR PUBLIC, UM, COUNTY HEALTH WORKERS, OUR LAB TECHS, OUR DOCTORS, AND OUR X-RAY TECHS.
[PAUSE] I'D LIKE TO SAY HELLO TO, UM, SUPERVISOR DE SERPA.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE BEEN ON DUELING SIDES OF THE PODIUM, SO IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY TO SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS AND HERNANDEZ, I SAW YOU AT THE MONTEREY BAY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL DINNER ON FRIDAY.
AND I'M HOPING THAT THAT APPEARANCE WASN'T JUST PERFORMATIVE POLITICS AND THAT YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU ARE GONNA PUT THE LABOR IN THIS COUNTY FIRST.
[CLAPPING] TO MANU, AS A TEACHER, I CAN TELL WHEN SOMEBODY'S MULTITASKING AND MAYBE NOT GIVING THE ROOM THE FULL ATTENTION.
SO THE EYE SCANNING UP AND DOWN....
LET'S GIVE THESE PEOPLE THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE, PLEASE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE CANNOT RUN OUR COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH LIKE WE WOULD A FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS.
[01:05:03]
AND IT SEEMS LIKE MONICA MORALES HAS BEEN RUNNING THE COUNTY LIKE A VENTURE CAPITALIST.SO I'M SURE THAT YOU GUYS GET BUDGET PRESENTATIONS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE COMING TO YOU AND SAYING, LOOK, THIS IS, THERE'S IMPOSSIBLE INEFFICIENCY HERE.
MAYBE WE CAN SAVE SOME MONEY JUST BY PAWNING THESE PEOPLE OFF ON FOR, UH, PROFIT BUSINESSES.
BUT IT DOES NOT WORK LIKE THAT.
OUR PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY ARE GONNA END UP HAVING TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE LONGER WAIT TIMES AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM, MORE HEALTHCARE COST.
SO THIS IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY QUESTION THOSE ADMINISTRATORS AND SAY, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO PRIORITIZE PEOPLE OVER PROFITS? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IS NOT A FOR-PROFIT INDUSTRY, AND IT'S YOUR JOB TO FIND WAYS TO PUT PEOPLE OVER PROFITS.
I AM JUST A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER HERE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST PAID TAXES, I WOULD'VE LOVED A WRITE-OFF TO HELP DONATE TO THIS.
YOU KNOW, I JUST CAUGHT WIND OF THIS, AND I WAS JUST THINKING LIKE, WHERE IS THE COMMUNITY? I COULD, THANK GOD THEY HAVE THIS, BUT THIS ALREADY FEELS LIKE YOU'RE ALREADY AT THE POINT OF CUTTING THIS.
LIKE, I REGISTERED MY BUSINESS DOWNSTAIRS.
YOU HAVE ALL MY CONTACT INFORMATION.
I WOULD'VE LOVED AN EMAIL AND MAYBE A GOFUNDME LINK OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW.
I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH INTO POSITIONS THAT WERE OPEN, REVENUE-GENERATING POSITIONS FOR THE COUNTY.
I CONSULT FOR BUSINESSES IN DIFFERENT AREAS AND LIKE, I WAS JUST LIKE, WHY ARE THESE REVENUE-GENERATING POSITIONS OPEN FOR SO LONG? AND, AND IT'S JUST, I, I HEARD ABOUT THIS AND I JUST WANTED TO COME SAY LIKE, PAUSE ON THIS AND JUST OPEN THE DOORS TO NEW IDEAS TO GENERATE MORE INCOME.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD RUN AN AD, SPEND A GRAND ON IT AND JUST SAY THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT CUTTING THIS AND I GUARANTEE YOU YOU'LL MAKE WAY MORE THAN YOU THINK.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, MAYBE A MILLION.
WHO KNOWS? I MEAN, AGAIN, TAX WRITE OFF FOR BUSINESSES AND JUST GIVE...
GIVE THE COMMUNITY LIKE A SAY, LIKE RIGHT NOW WE GET TO, OUR VOICE AND WE'RE JUST HOPING THAT YOU TAKE IT AND, AND RUN WITH IT.
BUT LIKE, THERE'S MORE THAT CAN BE DONE.
THERE'S MORE THAT CAN BE DONE, LIKE THE BUDGET, THE DEFICIT AND ALL THIS.
LIKE I'VE SEEN BUSINESSES OVERCOME THESE THINGS AND I JUST WANT TO JUST COME SAY, LIKE, FOR SURE DON'T CUT THESE THINGS.
LIKE, THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN DO.
[SILENCE] - HI, MY NAME IS RICHARD WELTON.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING US COME HERE AND AT LEAST EXPRESS THE OPENNESS TO THE... YOU, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'M SURE WHEN YOU GUYS TOOK THOSE JOBS, YOU HAD US IN MIND, SO YOU CAN MAKE A CHANGE.
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO MAKE THAT CHANGE AND REMEMBER WHY YOU TOOK YOUR JOB.
MY NAME IS RICHARD WELTON AGAIN.
I'M A RECIPIENT OF A COUPLE OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT CLOSING.
MHCAN, BEING ONE OF 'EM, HPHP TOO.
THESE PROGRAMS, THEY ARE REALLY....
I MEAN BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH AND GETTING OUT, THOSE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE, ARE STARTER PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE THE PROGRAMS TO WHERE THE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES, THE LADIES THAT ARE SCARED FOR THEIR LIVES, FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
THIS, THIS IS WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SPEAK TO SOMEBODY.
THEY CAN GO IN AND SAY, I NEED HELP AND THEY'LL GET SOME HELP.
THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT WE NEED OUT THERE, ON THE FRONT LINES, TO HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
MHCAN HAS MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE.
I'VE BEEN HOMELESS AND DRUG-ORIENTED FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
TODAY I'M SOBER, TODAY I'M A WEEK AWAY FROM HAVING AN APARTMENT.
I GOTTA COME HERE AND SAY THAT, DON'T CUT THESE PROGRAMS. WE NEED THOSE PROGRAMS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, 'CAUSE WITHOUT THEM WE WOULD ALL BE LOST.
I'M THE SECRETARY FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR MY REAPPOINTMENT, AND I'M GOING TO READ ITEM AA ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS OUR LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR MEASURE K ALLOCATIONS TO FUND MHCAN.
"THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025/26, $515,000 OF THE ESTIMATED $7.5 MILLION MEASURE K COUNTYWIDE SALES TAX INCREASE BE ALLOCATED TO MHCAN, WHICH IS A UNIQUE, ESSENTIAL, AND COST-EFFECTIVE PEER-RUN PROGRAM AND COUNTY CONTRACTOR.
THIS FUNDING WILL ENABLE MHCAN TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES.
[01:10:04]
PRUDENTLY INVESTING IN MHCAN SUSTAINS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, WELLBEING, AND DOES SO IN A COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER.FOR 27 YEARS, MHCAN HAS PROVIDED SERVICES THAT ARE UNIQUE AND ESSENTIAL FOR OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION.
MHCAN IS THE ONLY FULLY PEER-RUN ORGANIZATION IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY AND IS A LIFELINE FOR OUR CLIENTS, OFFERING CONNECTIONS, EMPOWERMENT, AND RECOVERY OPPORTUNITIES.
WELL OVER 50% OF ITS MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS.
MHCAN SERVES AS A PATH TO THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY INTEGRATED HOUSING AND RECOVERY TEAM AND FULL-SERVICE PARTNERSHIP TEAMS TO CONNECT AND ENGAGE PEOPLE NEEDING SERVICES.
[PAUSE] AS A COMMUNITY, OUR INTENTION AND GOAL MUST BE TO FIND AND ALLOCATE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING TO SCALE...
[PAUSE] ...TO SCALE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO MEET OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
MEASURE K WAS PASSED BY VOTERS TO DO THIS.
PLEASE CONSIDER SERIOUSLY THIS LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS ROD SCHUYLER CHACON.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MHCAN, LIKE THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SPEECH VERY MUCH.
I HAVE A SPEECH WRITTEN BY ARI HUTCHISON, WHO IS ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS THERE AT MHCAN.
I'VE BEEN GOING TO MHCAN PERSONALLY FOR 4 YEARS.
MY MOM IS RIGHT THERE IN THE COWBOY HAT.
THAT PLACE SAVED NOT ONLY MY LIFE, BUT MY MOTHER'S LIFE, AND I COULDN'T BE MORE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A FACILITY TO HELP OTHERS, INCLUDING MY OWN FAMILY AND EVEN MY DOG.
THE SPEECH THAT HE WROTE, UH...
I'M GONNA READ IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
"MY NAME IS ARI PAUL HUTCHISON, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MHCAN, WHICH IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
EVERY DAY, WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE BASIC, YET CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH AS NUTRITIOUS MEALS, SHOWERS, LAUNDRY, AND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
OUR PEER-RUN FACILITY IS TRULY UNIQUE, AND WE BELIEVE WE ARE PART OF A FANTASTIC COMMUNITY HUB THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO FEEL HUMAN AGAIN WITH MENTAL HEALTH PEERS WHO CAN RELATE TO EACH OTHER ON A VERY PERSONAL LEVEL.
I FEEL THAT MHCAN IS FAR MORE THAN A PLACE TO JUST WATCH A MOVIE LISTEN TO MUSIC, OR RELAX ON A COUCH.
OUR COMPUTER ROOM HELPS CLIENTS RECONNECT WITH FAMILY, APPLY FOR JOBS, ACCESS SERVICES ONLINE, AND GUIDE PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR APPLYING FOR FOOD STAMPS AND MENTAL HEALTH AND, AND AS WELL AS INSURANCE AS MEDICAL.
WE ALSO HAVE FUTURE HOPES OF BEING A GREATER PART OF A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR HOUSING CRISIS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
"THIS IS WHY WE'RE ACTIVELY HOPING TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH REHABILITATION PROGRAMS AND HOUSING-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HOUSING MATTERS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER ONSITE OFFICE SPACE FOR THESE PARTNERS SO OUR GUESTS CAN RECONNECT HOUSING RECOVERY PROGRAMS DIRECTLY IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY ALREADY FEEL SAFE IN, ALREADY FEEL SAFE IN AND CONNECTED.
WE BELIEVE THAT FUNDING MHCAN IS A VERY IMPORTANT INVESTMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND HELPING MENTALLY ILL AND HOUSELESS PEOPLE TO TAKE STEPS FORWARD TO..." - THANK YOU.
- "... FOR FUTURE STABILITY." SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M THE X-RAY CHIEF RADIOLOGY TECH AT HSA.
I DON'T HAVE A SPEECH, BUT I'M JUST GONNA TALK FROM MY HEART.
X-RAY AND LAB IS REALLY THE BACKBONE TO HEALTHCARE, WITHOUT X-RAY AND LAB, DOCTORS REALLY ARE TREATING PATIENTS WITHOUT NOT KNOWING REALLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND, UH, AN EXAMPLE IS LAST YEAR, WE HAD A PATIENT COME IN, UNINSURED, CAME TO OUR CLINIC, I DID HER CHEST X-RAY.
HER LUNG WAS FILLED WITH SO MUCH FLUID IT WENT TO THE TOP OF HER APEX OF HER LUNG.
WE SENT HER TO THE HOSPITAL, SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, AND THAT DAY SHE WAS ADMITTED AND GOT TREATMENT.
IF IT WASN'T FOR US THERE AT HSA TO DO HER LAB AND X-RAY, PATIENT WOULD'VE WALKED OUT, WENT HOME, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED TO HER.
BUT THAT DAY, HER LIFE WAS SAVED.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF US AT HSA AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
AND WE ALL KNOW OUR PATIENTS HERE HAVE SO MANY BARRIERS TO GET TO US.
SO I ASK YOU GUYS NOT TO BE ANOTHER BARRIER TO OUR PATIENTS HERE IN THE COUNTY THAT WE SERVE EVERY DAY.
YOU DON'T SEE WHAT WE SEE ON THE FRONTLINE AND WHAT WE DEAL WITH AND HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH
[01:15:01]
TO HELP THESE PATIENTS EVERY DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.SO I ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER THE...
WHAT'S BEEN ADMITTED TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THESE CUTS.
JUST IMAGINE THAT PATIENT WHO WALKED IN THAT DAY IS YOUR DAUGHTER, YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, YOUR SON, AND THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE THESE SERVICES, WE REFUSE THEM.
AND WHAT WOULD YOU FEEL THAT DAY THAT YOUR LOVED ONE WENT TO A HOSPITAL A WEEK LATER AND FOUND OUT THAT THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS NOT TREATABLE NO MORE? SO THINK ABOUT IT, WHAT WE GO THROUGH AND HOW MUCH WE DO TO HELP PATIENTS EVERY DAY.
AND THAT PERSON COULD BE YOUR LOVED ONE THAT WE COULD TURN AWAY NOW IN THE FUTURE.
LET'S NOT CREATE MORE BARRIERS.
BE THE REASON WHY WE CONTINUE SAVING LIVES, NOT DENYING THEM.
I'M THE REGION 2 DIRECTOR FOR SEIU.
HERE ARE A COUPLE LETTERS FROM PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE SO THAT YOU CAN READ AT YOUR LEISURE.
1970S, 1970S, THAT'S WHEN THE CLINIC STARTED, THE LAB AND THE X-RAY DEPARTMENT STARTED.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR 50 YEARS THAT THIS COUNTY HAS CREATED A LEGACY PROVIDING LAB AND X-RAY SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE BEEN, WE HAVE LABOR MANAGEMENT MEETINGS EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
THERE WAS NO NOTICE, NO HEADS UP, NOTHING TO TELL US, "WE'RE THINKING OF ELIMINATING.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY." NOTHING.
ONE DAY, MANAGEMENT WAKES UP AND SAYS, WE'RE GONNA ELIMINATE THIS LEGACY FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT HELPS WORKING CLASS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
THIS CANNOT HAPPEN TO OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU ALL CAME TO US AT ONE POINT, RIGHT? THAT YOU WANTED TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
LET'S FORM A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY.
LET'S FIGURE OUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
THERE'S ALWAYS A DIFFERENT OPTION, RIGHT? BUT THIS IS NOT THE OPTION TODAY FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY FOR OUR MEMBERS AND WORKERS, BUT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT THE DETRIMENT TO WATSONVILLE AND TO SANTA CRUZ AND EMELINE, RIGHT? AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PUSH ALL THESE SERVICES TO THIS HOSPITAL OR EMERGENCY ROOM THAT IS ALREADY IMPACTED.
SO LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT A BETTER SOLUTION.
[SILENCE] - HELLO, MY NAME IS JOSETTE MAFFUCCI.
AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE GEMMA PROGRAM.
I, UH, HAVE BEEN THERE IN 2009, 2012, AND 2015.
AND THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M STANDING HERE IS BECAUSE THEY TEACH US ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND, UM, UH, CHANGE.
AND GEMMA, I BELIEVE IT MEANS A SEED READY TO BLOOM.
AND WHEN WE COME IN OFF THE STREETS, WHICH I'VE BEEN NOW OFF THE STREETS FOR 10 YEARS, AS A WOMAN FROM...
THE ORIGINATORS, THEY WERE PROSTITUTES IN THE FLATS.
SO WE HAVE A HARD TIME REALLY SETTLING OUR SPIRIT, AND IT CHANGES US IN A WAY, UM, THAT TEACHES US HOW TO BE SAFE.
THEY GAVE US TWO WEEKS TO SETTLE.
THEN THEY GIVE US ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED, UM, COUNSELING, THERAPY, UH, THEY DO...
IT'S ALL WOMEN, WHICH IT FEELS VERY SECURE, AND WE'RE NOT USED TO THAT WHEN WE'RE OFF THE STREETS.
AND, UM, I TOLD MS-, JUDGE SIEGEL THAT, I WAS READY TO CHANGE AND UM...
AND HE BLESSED ME WITH THE PROGRAM.
[PAUSE] HE TOLD ME IF... I WASN'T GONNA MAKE IT, THAT UM, IT WAS GONNA BE REALLY BAD.
I WAS EITHER GONNA END UP IN PRISON OR SOMEBODY WAS GONNA DIE BECAUSE I WAS SO ANGRY INSIDE.
GEMMA TEACHES US TO SETTLE, UM, LOVE AND COMPASSION, AND, UM, FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED IS THAT THEY'VE COME TOGETHER WITH NEW LIFE, WHICH, UM, I JUST THOUGHT, "WOW, WHAT A GREAT..." IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO CHANGE.
AND, UM, AND NEW LIFE BEING A MEN'S FACILITY IS CO-ED.
SO I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL THERE, RIGHT? BUT I WAS IN GEMMA FIRST, AND THEN I LEFT GEMMA.
I WENT TO NEW LIFE AND I GRADUATED.
BUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S A WOMEN'S PROGRAM, UM...
THE UNITY OF BOTH PROGRAMS TOGETHER CAN REALLY SUPPORT THE WOMEN IN THE STREETS OF SANTA CRUZ MORE THAN ANYTHING I CAN EVER SAY.
OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE, YOU KNOW, MURDER, DEATHS, SUICIDES, OVERDOSES.
I JUST AM SO GRATEFUL, AND THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE CHANGE.
[01:20:03]
- OKAY, GOOD MORNING.UM, SORRY, I NEVER REALLY SPEAK.
SO ANYWAYS, UM, I'M HERE TO REPRESENT...
FIRST, MY, MY NAME IS CLEMENTINA CRUZ AND I'M ACTUALLY... I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL IT, A NATIVE.
THIS IS WHERE I'M RAISING MY KIDS.
THIS IS WHERE MY MOM AND MY DAD, WHO ARE STILL ALIVE, WHO HAVE GOTTEN PUBLIC SERVICES, UM, ARE STILL HERE.
AND I'M COMING HERE NOT JUST AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, BUT AS UM, A WORKER FOR THE COUNTY.
I'VE BEEN A PHLEBOTOMIST FOR 20 YEARS.
I'VE SERVED 17 YEARS AT THE COUNTY, AND I HAVE TO SAY IT HAS BEEN A LIFE EXPERIENCE.
THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE THERE ARE NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT, UM, HAVE, UH, INSURANCE.
THEY COME WITH A LOT OF OTHER STUFF.
THEY NEED NOT JUST OUR SERVICES, BUT ALSO OUR SUPPORT.
AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT ALSO THE COMMUNITY OF WATSONVILLE.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE NOT BEEN TO WATSONVILLE CLINIC, YOU GUYS WILL KNOW THAT THE CLINIC IS IMPACTED WITH THE NEED, UM, OF OUR SERVICES.
I'M ASKING TODAY THAT YOU PLEASE, REEVALUATE AND THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
THERE'S JUST NO WAY THAT OUR PROVIDERS WILL BE ABLE TO GET THOSE PATIENTS TO, TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IF THEY CAN BARELY GET THEM TO GET TO THE LAB THAT IS RIGHT THERE.
I ALSO ASK THAT YOU GUYS PLEASE, THINK ABOUT NOT CUTTING FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE HANDS ON FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I JUST HOPE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE, THAT YOU GUYS WOULD CONSIDER THAT THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN, OUR PARENTS, OUR GRANDPARENTS, THE PEOPLE THAT COME.
OUR SERVICES ARE JUST REALLY IMPORTANT.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING TO THE BOARD AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MY NAME IS ALEXIS KONEVICH AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LIVE OAK.
I ALSO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION.
[PAUSE] I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD'S ATTENTION TO THE COMMISSION'S RECENT LETTER INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKETS REGARDING THE REZONING OF 5 PARKS DESIGNATED PARCELS.
THE COMMISSION UNDERSTANDS THE COUNTY'S GREAT NEED FOR HOUSING, AND WE URGE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER HOW WE BALANCE THIS NEED WITH THE EQUALLY IMPORTANT NEED FOR PARK LAND TO ACCOMMODATE OUR GROWING COMMUNITY.
[PAUSE] MOVING FORWARD, WE ALSO REQUEST THAT THE BOARD AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION FORMALLY INCLUDE THE PARKS COMMISSION IN DISCUSSIONS THAT AFFECT PARK LANDS IN SANTA SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
[SILENCE] - BUENOS DIAS, CHAIR AND BOARD.
BORN AND RAISED IN DISTRICT 4.
CURRENTLY RESIDE IN DISTRICT 3.
UM, JUST BEEN LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS AND I WASN'T PLANNING ON COMMENTING RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE THE PRESENTATIONS ARE GONNA BE HAPPENING LATER, SO I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT.
UM, USUALLY, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH ARE USUALLY PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE WHERE TO CUT, WHERE DOES IT HAVE TO, WHERE DOES, WHERE, WHERE THE ELIMINATION HAVE TO COME FROM, RIGHT? BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ACTUAL PUBLIC SAFETY, WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, RIGHT? WHETHER IT'S THROUGH MEDICAL, THROUGH SERVICES, THROUGH THERAPY, THROUGH PARKS, RIGHT, THROUGH, YOU KNOW, SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT [PAUSE] WE NEED TO PROTECT THAT WHICH IS PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT IS PUBLIC, THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
WHAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, THAT...
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HERE BEING AFFECTED.
YOU HAVE STORIES HERE TOO, OF PEOPLE THAT ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED.
I'M MYSELF WAS FORMERLY INCARCERATED.
AND I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IS ME BEING LOCKED UP, THERE'S NOTHING FOR ME.
YES, THERE'S AN AN ASPECT OF BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO MY ACTIONS AND STUFF, BUT THE REAL HEALING, THE REAL PROCESS AND PRACTICE OF ACTUALLY ACTUALIZING A GOOD LIFE WAS HAPPENING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? THROUGH THOSE THAT ARE PROFESSIONALS, UH, MEDICAL PROVIDERS, RIGHT? THOSE THAT ARE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, THOSE THAT ARE, UM, CALL 'EM HEALERS, CALL 'EM, UH, SUPPORTERS, CALL 'EM, JUST, UH, THE, THE BACKBONE OF THOSE THAT ARE ON THE STREETS, YOU KNOW,
[01:25:01]
THAT SUPPORT FOR THOSE THAT ARE ON THE STREET, THAT TRYING TO NAVIGATE LIFE, YOU KNOW, DOWN THERE.SO JUST, UH, HOPE THAT YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PUBLIC SAFETY, WE NEED TO INVEST IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
I'M A LIVE OAK RESIDENT AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE 47 PLOTS THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UH, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED ADDITIONAL HOUSING, BUT THE PROPOSALS THAT I'VE SEEN, SHOW NO PLANNING WHATSOEVER.
I LIVE OFF OF RODRIGUEZ AND WE HAVE TIMED VEHICLES GOING IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES AN HOUR.
THERE ARE THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THAT, IN THAT AREA.
AND, UM, TO PUT ADDITIONAL HOUSING TO THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT THESE PLANS CALL FOR, IS NOT PLANNING AND IT, IT IS NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE CLOSE TO, YOU KNOW, BEING CONGRUENT WITH, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THESE PROPOSALS HAVE GONE IN.
THERE'S ONE ON, OFF OF CAPITOLA ROAD WHERE THE UNIT'S GOING TO BE FIVE STORIES TALL AND THAT IS GOING TO BLOCK THE SOLAR HEATING ON EXISTING UNITS ON GREY SEAL WAY.
AND, UM, AND THEY'RE EVEN TALKING ABOUT BREAKING GREY SEAL WAY FROM A CUL-DE-SAC INTO A THOROUGHFARE.
AND WITH THESE ADDITIONAL UNITS THAT ARE GOING IN OFF OF 17TH ON, ON RODRIGUEZ ITSELF, PAUL MINNIE, AND THEN OFF OF CAPITOLA, YOU'RE TALKING IN EXCESS OF 200 TO 300 MORE VEHICLES IN THAT AREA.
AND THAT IS A HINDRANCE AND A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY AND I HOPE YOU TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION.
MY NAME'S PATRICIA LUCAS, AND I HEARD IT SAID THAT, UM, SIR, MR. KOENIG, YOU HAVE A BABY GIRL, A LITTLE GIRL.
WE HAVE A LITTLE GIRL WHO'S NOW 40, AND I HELD THAT LITTLE GIRL IN MY ARMS 40 YEARS AGO.
AND LITTLE DID I KNOW HER PATH IN LIFE WOULD BE SO DIFFICULT WITH MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS, PHYSICAL ILLNESS, DISABILITY, UM, DRUG ADDICTION, LIKE THE LADY THAT STOOD HERE WITH HER CHILD.
SHE KNOWS MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT A LINEAR EXPERIENCE.
IT'S UP AND DOWN BACK AND FORTH AND AROUND THE CORNER AGAIN.
TWENTY YEARS, OUR DAUGHTER HAS STRUGGLED, IN, UP AND DOWN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SHE WAS ON THE STREETS FOR A YEAR, VERY DEBILITATED, OFF MEDS.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW, AFTER HER STAY IN MAIN STREET JAIL, THE LAST MONTH, LAST NIGHT WHEN SHE WAS RELEASED, SHE WAS FINALLY READY, FINALLY RELEASED TO EL DORADO'S CENTER WHERE SHE IS GRATEFUL TO GOD AND SO GLAD TO POSSIBLY BE ON, FINALLY, A JOURNEY IN HER LIFE THAT SHE CAN HAVE A LIFE.
SHE CAN SEE HER DAUGHTER AGAIN.
AND ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE THERE WAITING FOR OUR DAUGHTER THAT WE'VE WAITED 20 YEARS FOR.
SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY NEED THESE SERVICES.
PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE ON THE STREET, THEN THEY NEED SERVICES.
PLEASE GOD, PLEASE, PLEASE, YOU THAT ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE CARE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STREETS, THE PEOPLE OF SANTA CRUZ, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR MOTHERS.
PLEASE CONSIDER MAINTAINING THESE PROGRAMS. AND FOR MY DAUGHTER, PLEASE.
I AM AN ADDICT IN RECOVERY AND I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO WORK FOR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY.
I AM A MAT MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT CASE MANAGER, DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELOR.
SO I, UH, I, I, I WAS AT EMELINE FOR SOME TIME.
AND I SHARED THE PART ABOUT, ABOUT BEING IN RECOVERY, BECAUSE OF, OF OUR PATIENTS, UH, NEEDING LAB WORK TO GET DONE, RIGHT? IN ORDER FOR, FOR OUR PROVIDERS TO PRESCRIBE MEDICATION TO OUR PATIENTS., THIS MEDICATION ASSISTED, TREATMENT MEDICATION, RIGHT, IS UH, THEY HAVE TO HAVE LABS DONE BEFOREHAND TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE TO GIVE 'EM THE MEDICATION, THAT THEY MIGHT USE FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR USE DISORDER, RIGHT? DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS.
[01:30:01]
UM, AND I KNOW BEING IN RECOVERY MYSELF, THAT JUST TO GET TO THE CLINIC, UH, AND, AND IN ORDER TO GET HELP, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE SERVICES IS HARD ENOUGH AS IT IS.AND THEN TO ASK THEM, "HEY, YOU KNOW, OKAY, WELL IN ORDER, IN ORDER TO TAKE THIS ANY FURTHER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA SEND YOU OVER HERE." AND HALF THE TIME THEY MAY BE HOMELESS, NOT HAVE A CAR, NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF TRANSPORTATION.
AND EVEN IF THEY DID, IT'S SO HARD TO GET YOURSELF INTO A PLACE FOR TREATMENT LIKE, UH, IN THE VERY BEGINNING, THAT IT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL TO TRY TO SEND THEM SOME PLACE ELSE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A BIG DEAL.
AND, AND, AND I PERSONALLY JUMP AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HELP A, A PATIENT OUT THAT'S, UH, THAT'S LOOKING FOR A, FOR TREATMENT OR LOOKING FOR SOME HELP.
ASIDE FROM THAT, THE LADIES OR, OR THE PEOPLE IN THE LAB.
SO THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE PATIENTS THAT COME IN THAT ARE IV DRUG USERS AND THEY'RE WHAT'S CALLED A HARD STICK 'CAUSE PEOPLE IN THAT LAB HAVE SKILLS, THE MAJOR SKILLS, AND UH, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
THEY'RE ABLE TO PULL SOME STUFF OFF THAT ANOTHER LAB MAY, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - BEEN HERE BEFORE.
MOST OF YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE HAD SOMETHING TO SAY.
THIS SPEAKS OF VIVA MEXICO HERE.
TO START WITH THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, MY NAME IS UNIMPORTANT, BUT I'M HONORED TO BE CALLED GRANDFATHER BY THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SPEAK ABOUT MHCAN, PLEASE THOSE WHO KNOW ME KNOW IT'S MUCH MORE THAN YOU TAKING CARE OF MAKING YOUR VOTE TO KEEP IT OPEN.
PLEASE, YOU KNOW, I CAN DO WHAT IT IS WHEN I GET UP IN THE MORNING TILL I GO AT NIGHT, I'M GONNA BE 90 MY NEXT BIRTHDAY.
PLEASE DON'T DEFUND WHAT COULD REALLY CHANGE THE WHOLE COUNTY, ONE BLOCK, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND PARTICULARLY GET THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OUR COUNTY TO TAKE CARLOS AND LET HIM LEAD BEYOND MONEY.
COME OUT ANYTIME WHILE WE'RE OPEN AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE.
AND THOSE THAT KNOW THAT POWER IS OVER HERE WITH PEOPLE WILL CALL ME GRANDPA.
[PAUSE] NOW, I CAN'T DO IT IN 2 MINUTES, BUT I CAN SURE DO IT WITH THE POWER OF "WE." JUST REMEMBER THAT THE UNION IS NOT JUST SEIU, IT'S ALL UNIONS AND WE HAVE THE HOMELESS UNION, [PAUSE] AND HOMIES.
[PAUSE] I AM A VANILLA HOMIE [PAUSE] AND I INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO SEE WHAT ONE BLOCK IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN DO WITH YOUR HELP.
YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM PEOPLE 11 MINUTES.
THE REAL POWER IS THIS YOUNG LADY, PLEASE COME OUT AND VISIT US.
HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE, YOUR INVITATION, SUPERVISORS.
COME OUT AND SEE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DEFUND POWER.
I WANNA BEGIN MY TESTIMONY BY SAYING, I'VE BEEN WATCHING ALL OF YOU FOR THE LAST HOUR OUT IN THE HALLWAY.
IN SCHOOLS TODAY, WE TAKE CELL PHONES AND DIGITAL DEVICES AWAY FROM STUDENTS SO THAT THEY FOCUS.
I HAVE SEEN YOU ALL LOOKING DOWN AND NOT LISTENING.
PUT YOUR CELL PHONES AWAY, CLOSE YOUR LAPTOPS AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE EFFORT TO COME TO YOU, SOME OF THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND SPEAK.
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING HERE TO YOU.
I WANNA QUICKLY SAY ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 61, MILLS ACT.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING SOMETHING TO SAVE HISTORIC RESOURCES.
SUPERVISOR KOENIG, I SEE YOU LOOKING DOWN.
AND, UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY ON CONSENT ITEM 53, THE MOSQUITO VECTOR CSA INCREASE.
THERE IS NO ENGINEERS REPORT TO VERIFY THAT, UH, THESE, THE, THERE IS SPECIAL VERSUS GENERAL BENEFIT AND, UH, THAT MUST BE INCLUDED TO BE LEGALLY, UH, DEFENSIBLE.
NOW I WANNA SPEND THE REST OF MY TIME GIVING YOU 35 LETTERS THAT WERE GATHERED IN THE MAY 12TH, BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM PROTEST THAT WAS HELD IN WATSONVILLE FROM RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT WANT LITHIUM BATTERY ION PROJECT
[01:35:02]
IN WATSONVILLE.THERE'S, THAT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY OVER 150 PEOPLE SAYING NO.
AND SUPERVISOR HERNANDEZ, WE MISSED YOU.
[PAUSE] SO I'M GOING TO PRESENT THESE LETTERS TO YOU.
THERE, UH, WILL BE SOMEONE ELSE FOLLOWING UP WITH A PETITION.
AND I WANNA JUST SAY THAT LITHIUM BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IS NOT SAFE NO MATTER WHAT FORM IT TAKES.
THERE WERE FIRES IN GERMANY, THREE FIRES AT ONE FACILITY WITH THE SAFER CONTAINERIZED BATTERIES THAT CAUGHT FIRE, UNLIKE IN THE PICTURE HERE OF THE SITE...
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SANTA CRUZ.
I AM AN ACTIVE WORKER FOR MHCAN, MENTAL HEALTH CLIENT ACTION NETWORK.
WE LET... ALLOW PEOPLE ON THE PROPERTY AT 8:30, AND WE CLOSE AT 2:00.
THEY CAN TAKE SHOWERS, THEY CAN EAT SNACKS OFF THE TABLE, THEY CAN USE THE COMPUTER ROOM.
THERE'S ABOUT THREE MEALS A DAY SERVED TO THEM.
THESE ARE HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND MENTALLY ILL AND IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHILE WE'RE OPEN, IT GIVES THEM A PLACE TO COME AND RELAX AND TO DO HYGIENE AND TO GET ON THE COMPUTERS OR USE THE PHONE AND CONNECT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO PLEASE DO NOT DEFUND MHCAN BECAUSE IT'S A, A REALLY GOOD SOURCE OF THE COMMUNITY GIVING BACK TO PEOPLE WHO WERE TRANSIENTS, WHO CAME INTO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY IN THE EARLY '70S.
I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL THEN, AND I WOULD LOOK OUT MY WINDOW ON RIVER STREET AND HEAR PEOPLE TALKING AND WONDER WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM? BUT NOW I KNOW.
I'VE BEEN WORKING AT MHCAN FOR... SINCE 1918 AND I ENJOY IT.
I ENJOY HELPING THE COMMUNITY OF HOMELESS AND MENTALLY ILL.
I'M A MEDICAL AUTHORIZED ACTIVITY WORKER.
I GIVE PEOPLE REFERRALS TO OTHER RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND PLEASE TAKE IT IN CONSIDERATION TO FUND US AT LEAST $500,000 MILLION TO STAY OPEN AND CONTINUE TO GIVE THESE SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN NEED.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS.
MARIAH ROBERTS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COUNTY PARK FRIENDS.
WE'RE THE NONPROFIT PARTNER TO YOUR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT.
FIRST, I WANNA THANK YOU AND APPLAUD EVERYONE IN OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU ARE NAVIGATING RIGHT NOW, AND THE DECISIONS THAT MUST BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT GIVEN THE NATIONAL CLIMATE AND CHANGES.
I'M HERE JUST TO COMMENT ON AN OPPORTUNITY, AND THIS IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, IN REGARDS TO WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY AGENDA ITEM 7.
I THINK IT'S BEEN MOVED POTENTIALLY, BUT, AROUND THE REZONING AND WE LOOK AT THE USE OF OUR LAND AND HOW THAT PLANNING HAPPENS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT REGARDS THE INTERFACE BETWEEN HOUSING AND ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS.
AND SO THE INVITATION IS REALLY TO CONSIDER VERY, VERY CAREFULLY ANYTIME THERE'S A PLANNING CHANGE THAT AFFECTS PARKS BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY IS AS WE...
AS YOU WORK SO HARD AND AS STAFF IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WORKS SO HARD TO IDENTIFY AND PLAN FOR THE HOUSING WE DESPERATELY NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IF WE DO THAT WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND THE PARKS COMMISSION, AND WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO PLAY A PART IN THAT, THEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AN INFRASTRUCTURE AND A BUILT ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL SERVE GENERATIONS.
IF YOU'RE LIVING IN AN APARTMENT, ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL UNIT, FOR ALL OF THE REASONS, SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, PEOPLE NEED ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE.
SO I INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE REZONING PLAN.
AND I INVITE THIS TO BE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD.
MY NAME IS LESLIE HARRIS, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF THE WINKLE FARM PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 22 YEARS,
[01:40:02]
RAISED MY DAUGHTER THERE, MY GODSON AND MY DOG.SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PARK.
I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE LISTENING TO SOME REALLY DIFFICULT, CHALLENGING STORIES ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND THE NEED FOR SERVICES.
AND ONE THING THAT COULD, UM, BE PREVENTATIVE AND WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, IS ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS, RECREATION, TIME IN NATURE, TIME OUTSIDE, TIME TO MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS AND TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS.
I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DENSITY DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I ACTUALLY AGREE THAT THE LOCATION AT, UH, SOQUEL AND THURBER IS APPROPRIATE.
SOME ISSUES ABOUT SCALE, BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECOMES MORE DENSE, THE MORE WE NEED OPEN SPACE SO THAT WE CAN INTEGRATE THESE NEW NEIGHBORS, OUR NEW NEIGHBORS, ALL OF US TOGETHER TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, TO PLAY TOGETHER, TO COOPERATE.
WE ARE GONNA INEVITABLY HAVE SOME CHALLENGES, TRAFFIC AND PARKING AND WHATNOT.
BUT IF WE ALSO KNOW EACH OTHER AND WE HAVE UH, A BETTER RELATIONSHIPS AND UH, NEIGHBORLY RELATIONSHIPS THAT'S GONNA GO SUCH A LONG WAY TO MAINTAINING A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
URBAN PLANNING IS JUST ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO EITHER SELL THE FARM OR SAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA, AND I'M A CLIENT UM, AT MHCAN.
AND I'VE LIVED IN SANTA CRUZ FOR ALL 38 YEARS OF MY LIFE, ALMOST 39, AND PLEASE, KEEP MHCAN.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE WITHOUT YOU GUYS AND UM, RESOURCES LIKE THAT.
I WAS AT A VERY LOW POINT IN MY LIFE, 5 YEARS AGO, BEFORE, JUST A YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, I WAS SUICIDAL AND I LOST A JOB, AND DIDN'T KNOW, UM, WHAT WAS COMING.
AND I FELT HOPELESS AND HELPLESS.
AND I WAS... I HAD ONE MISFORTUNE AFTER THE NEXT AND THANKS TO PLACES LIKE MHCAN AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, I WAS ABLE TO PULL THROUGH AND, AND BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE I COULD HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU GUYS.
AND WE NEED TO KEEP OUR RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT ARE THE FIRST THINGS THAT WANNA GET CUT.
THIS IS REALLY GOING BACK INTO THE PAST AND NOT GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
THEY WANNA BE LIKE, LIKE IT WAS BACK WHEN MY PARENTS OR EVEN GRANDPARENTS WERE GROWING UP AND WE'VE COME SO FAR SINCE THEN.
AND, UM, WE JUST CAN'T HAVE THIS AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND GET A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND GET THEIR LIVES BACK ON TRACK LIKE I DID.
AND, AND I WOULDN'T BE THE PERSON I WAS TODAY.
AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND PLEASE KEEP IT.
PLEASE KEEP MHCAN, PLEASE KEEP MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND PEOPLE WITH LEARNING CHALLENGES.
WE REALLY NEED YOU GUYS AND UM, AND I JUST REALLY SO APPRECIATE IT AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF I TAKE IT AWAY.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION WHERE WE NAVIGATE THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT TODAY ABOUT HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CHALLENGES HERE IN THE COUNTY.
THAT'S NOT WHY I CAME IN, BUT I'VE DISCOVERED THAT I'VE LEARNED A NEW THING TO WORRY ABOUT.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE MY APPRECIATION TO EVERYBODY WHO'S SPOKEN UH, IN THE AUDIENCE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO GIVE MY APPRECIATION TO THE SUPERVISORS FOR THE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE FACING YOU, UM, AND HAVING TO DECIDE ABOUT TRADE-OFFS.
I'D LIKE TO FOCUS EVERYBODY ON THE INTERSECTION OF BROMMER ROAD AND CHANTICLEER AVENUE.
[PAUSE] THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE 47 PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY PLANNING.
WITHIN 350 FEET OF THAT INTERSECTION, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS PROPOSING 11 NEW BUILDINGS, THREE STORIES TALL, WITH A TOTAL OF 76 HOUSING UNITS.
[PAUSE] ELEVEN NEW BUILDINGS, 3 STORIES TALL.
THE NEAREST 3-STORY BUILDING IS ON CAPITOLA ROAD, UH,
[01:45:04]
ABOUT A HALF A MILE AWAY.UM, IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHANTICLEER AND BROMMER, FEWER THAN 18% OF THE BUILDINGS HAVE A SECOND FLOOR.
I'VE WALKED AROUND AND COUNTED THEM.
[PAUSE] THIS WILL DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOREVER.
SO FAR, IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH NEIGHBORS, THE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN, "I'M NOT PUTTING ANOTHER DIME INTO MY PROPERTY." "I'M GONNA SELL MY PROPERTY." THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THIS PROPOSAL.
THIS GETS TO THE POINT MADE EARLIER ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS REALLY PLANNING.
I THINK THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARE ALL ON BOARD WITH THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO CREATE MORE RESIDENTIAL CAPACITY.
THREE-STORY BUILDINGS, WHERE THERE ARE NONE, WILL DRAMATICALLY TAINT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CHANGE IT FOREVER.
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, CRIME PROBLEMS, ENDLESS CONSTRUCTION, PARKING PROBLEMS. YOU GUYS HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS AHEAD.
[SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MY NAME IS DANNY CICCONE, AND I'M SPEAKING FOR, UH, ON BEHALF OF MHCAN.
FIRST OF ALL, THE COMMUNITY, UH, HOMELESS COMMUNITY LOOKS FORWARD FOR MHCAN TO OPEN EVERY DAY BECAUSE MOST OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE SLEEP ON THE STREET AND THEY LOOK FORWARD EVERY MORNING TO GOING TO MHCAN TO GET COFFEE, BREAKFAST, AND SHOWERS.
MOST OF THESE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE NO INCOME AND THE ONLY WAY THEY ARE SURVIVING IS THROUGH MHCAN TO HELP.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE FEEL SAFER AT MHCAN BECAUSE SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN ROBBED AND ALL THEIR THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE RESPECT FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE.
MHCAN IS LIKE ONE OF THE BIGGEST, BIG FAMILY BECAUSE THE WORKERS OF MHCAN GUIDE THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP WITH THEIR HOUSING AND OTHER RESOURCES.
MHCAN OFFERS BREAKFAST, LUNCHES, AND DRINKS LIKE COFFEE.
THEY CAN USE UH, A MUSIC ROOM, COMPUTER ROOM, AND UH, EVEN THE MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE IN THERE ARE AMAZING BECAUSE THEY EVEN PUT PUZZLES TOGETHER.
AND UH, THEY ARE [INAUDIBLE] PERSONS SET THEM UP TO THE RIGHT TRACK.
MHCAN IS GREAT AND- AND YOU CAN ASK THEM ANYTHING AND THEY WILL GUIDE YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WITHOUT MHCAN, THESE HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LOST.
MOST OF THEM WILL BE STARVING AND HUNGRY.
[PAUSE] MHCAN IS LIKE A BIG SAFE HAVEN FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S REAL ROUGH SLEEPING ON THE STREET.
FOUR TO... 4 TO 5 PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THEY WERE ATTACKED BY SOME, SOME PEOPLE, THEY'RE TRYING TO ROB THEM.
- ... THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND PEOPLE...
[SILENCE] - CHAIR, CHAIR EXCUSE ME.
WE HAVE A, A 10:45 SCHEDULED ITEM WITH A ZONE 5 MEETING.
IT'S A VERY SHORT MEETING, EXPECTED TO BE PROBABLY NO MORE THAN 5 OR 10 MINUTES, BUT WE'RE 5 MINUTES OVER.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY MAYBE TO POSTPONE THE REST OF PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL AFTER THAT ZONE 5 MEETING.
IS THAT SUPERVISOR KOENIG? - [INAUDIBLE] - OKAY. - YES.
[SILENCE] - WE'LL TAKE A SHORT UH, POSTPONEMENT, 5 MINUTES TO HOLD OUR PUBLIC HEARING FOR ZONE 5.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL GO TO, GO AHEAD AND CALL TO ORDER THE ZONE 5, UH, MEETING...
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONE 5 FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[14. The Board of Supervisors shall recess in order to permit the Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz County Flood Control and Water Conservation District – Zone 5 to convene and carry out a special meeting]
- PRESENT.- ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE CONSENT OR REGULAR AGENDAS TODAY? - NO CHANGES.
- ALL RIGHT, DO WE HAVE ANY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT? [SILENCE] SEEING NONE HERE IN THE BOARD CHAMBERS, IS THERE ANY ONLINE? [SILENCE]
[01:50:01]
- JUST ONE MOMENT, PEOPLE ARE RAISING AND LOWERING THEIR HANDS AS THEY WERE IN LINE FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.[SILENCE] - YES, I DO SEE SPEAKERS ONLINE THAT ARE CONTINUING TO RAISE THEIR HAND UP, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND SHARE OUR SCREEN.
[SILENCE] - AGAIN, THIS IS JUST FOR COMMENTS TO THE FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, ZONE 5.
[SILENCE] - ASH, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
[PAUSE] ALICE, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
[SILENCE] - CAN YOU HEAR ME? - WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFICULTY HERE.
- WE CAN, YOU'RE JUST VERY, VERY QUIET, SO GIVE US A SECOND TO INCREASE YOUR VOLUME.
- HI, UM, I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO TALK TO THE BOARD OF UH, SUPERVISORS, NOT ABOUT THIS.
[INAUDIBLE] - GREAT, IF YOU COULD JUST HOLD ON ONE MINUTE, I THINK WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS MEETING PRETTY QUICKLY.
JUST SHOULD BE A FEW MORE MINUTES HERE.
[SILENCE] - CALL IN USER ONE, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
[SILENCE] - I REFER YOU AGAIN TO GEOENGINEERINGWATCH.ORG ABOUT WEATHER MODIFICATION AND RAYTHEON LOCKHEED MARTIN PATENT CENTER.
SOME OF THE MAIN ALTERATIONS FOR THE WEATHER THAT ARE WREAKING HAVOC ON THE GLOBAL CLIMATE IN TERMS OF FLOODS, DROUGHTS, ET CETERA.
THESE ARE NOT NATURAL WEATHER PATTERNS.
THESE ARE MANIPULATED AND A TYPE OF WEATHER WARFARE.
THERE ARE STATES THAT ARE CALLING FOR A HALT OF THESE OPERATIONS, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE SKY AND YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE AND SEE THE DIMMING VIDEO ON IT, AND IT'S ALL DOCUMENTED.
WE ARE DEALING WITH WHAT'S NOT NATURAL IN NATURE, BUT WHAT'S PROFITABLE TO CERTAIN ENTITIES.
I URGE YOU TO CALL FOR A HALT TO THESE GEOENGINEERING, NANOPARTICLE, YOU KNOW, HIDDEN DROPS INTO OUR HOME ENVIRONMENT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT? - THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT UH, USING...
CAPTURING STORM WATER IN WHATEVER CAPACITY EACH OF THESE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS CAN, LAND USE PERMITTING, AND DOING SOME GROUNDWATER RECHARGE.
DR. ANDY FISHER UP AT UCSC HAS DONE EXTENSIVE SOIL MAPPING OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY TO SHOW WHERE THE SOILS THAT ARE MOST PERMEABLE AND COULD ACCOMMODATE GROUNDWATER RECHARGE PROJECTS EXIST, AND I, I ASK THAT ALL OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS CONSIDER THIS IN WHATEVER SIZE PROJECT IS A- A LAND AREA CAN ACCOMMODATE.
[PAUSE] COLLECTIVELY, IT COULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR GROUNDWATER LEVELS AND WOULD BE UM, MUCH- MUCH LESS CHEMICAL AND ENERGY INTENSIVE THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE PURE WATER SOCAL PROJECT, INJECTING TREATED SEWAGE WATER INTO OUR AQUIFER.
[PAUSE] SO I ASK THAT YOU DO THIS.
I ALSO ASK THAT IN AREAS THAT ARE...
THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE JUST FLOODING, SURFACE FLOODING, TO- TO CONSIDER THOSE KINDS OF ALTERNATIVES.
DR. HELEN DAHLKE UP AT UC DAVIS HAS DONE EXTENSIVE WORK WITH FARMERS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY DOING THIS, AND IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE GROUNDWATER TABLE LEVELS.
[PAUSE] IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ONLINE? - I SEE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS ONLINE.
THEN WE'LL UH, PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM DIRECTORS?
[01:55:03]
ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE HERE IN CHAMBERS, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? [SILENCE] SEEING NONE...- MOTION BY DIRECTOR CUMMINGS, SECOND BY DIRECTOR DE SERPA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO ADJOURNMENT.
WE'LL NOW RESUME PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR GIVING US A BRIEF PAUSE.
WE WEREN'T SURE IF WE WERE GONNA HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL DIRECTORS JOINING US ONLINE AND WE DIDN'T WANNA UH, DELAY THEM TOO MUCH.
BUT IF YOU WERE WAITING FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I'D INVITE YOU TO COME BACK UP.
AND CHAIR HERNANDEZ WILL BE BACK WITH US IN A, IN A MINUTE.
[PAUSE] BUT GO AHEAD, UH, IF...
THIS IS IF YOU HAVE NOT YET MADE A COMMENT.
SO WE'RE BASICALLY RESUMING PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF BEFORE PAUSING BRIEFLY FOR THE ZONE 5 FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
AND YEAH, THIS IS ONLY IF YOU HAVE NOT YET MADE A COMMENT.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS NINO AUDINO.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, I LIVE NEAR CORRALITOS.
I, I WANTED TO EXTEND MY DEEP THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE REALLY UM, PROFOUND AND EMPATHIC AND SENSIBLE COMMENTS MADE TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COUNTY.
UM, A FEW YEARS AGO, ONE OF AMERICA'S MORE THOUGHTFUL JOURNALISTS PUBLISHED A BOOK SHE DUBBED BRIGHT-SIDED: HOW THE RELENTLESS PROMOTION OF POSITIVE THINKING HAS UNDERMINED AMERICA.
IN IT, BARBARA EHRENREICH TAKES ON WHAT IS ARGUABLY AMERICANS' MOST DEFINING SELF IMAGE AND REPUTATION.
OUR ICONIC CAN DO POSITIVE ATTITUDE THAT'S BEEN ENSHRINED AS A DOMINANT, PERHAPS EVEN MANDATORY CULTURAL ATTITUDE AND THE KEY TO GETTING SUCCESS.
SHE CONFRONTS THE FALSE PROMISES OF IRRATIONAL POSITIVE THINKING, ARGUING THAT BEING OPTIMISTIC AT ALL COSTS AND REFUSING TO CONSIDER NEGATIVE OUTCOMES LEADS TO OVERSIMPLIFYING COMPLEX PROBLEMS TO ECONOMIC CRISES, FALSE SCIENCE, AND UNACCEPTABLE HUMAN COSTS.
SHE ENDS WITH AN URGENT CALL FOR EXISTENTIAL CLARITY AND RETURN TO A COMMITMENT TO REALISM.
IN KEEPING WITH THE CULT OF POSITIVITY EHRENREICH CAUTIONED AGAINST, SHANNON EDDY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LARGE SCALE SOLAR ASSOCIATION RECENTLY LAUDED THE CAN-DO PATRIOTIC ATTITUDE NEEDED TO MEET CALIFORNIA'S ENERGY PRODUCTION GOALS.
CALIFORNIANS WILL NEED THE SAME SENSE OF URGENCY, TEAMWORK, DRIVE AND SHARED PURPOSE THAT AMERICANS MUSTERED DURING WORLD WAR II, SHE SAID.
"I HATE TO USE THE WORD SACRIFICE," SHE SAID, "A TIME OF A SHARED PURPOSE WHEN EVERYONE WAS JOINED IN A COMMON GOAL." ECHOING HER PATRIOTIC POSITIVITY, 3CE POLICY BOARD CHAIR DAS WILLIAMS RECENTLY INVOKED OUR DUTY AS A COMMUNITY TO MEET THE GREATEST ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME AND TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO CLEAN ENERGY.
NOT EASY TO STEP OUTSIDE THIS ECHO PATRIOTIC POSITIVITY AND TO QUESTION THE USE OF LITHIUM BATTERY TECH IN MEETING OUR SO-CALLED SACRIFICIAL COMMON GOAL.
PERHAPS WE SHOULD READ AND REALISTICALLY CONSIDER THE NUMEROUS PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC STUDIES THAT ACCURATELY CATALOG UNACCEPTABLE RISKS OF FIRE AND EXPLOSION IN UTILITY SCALE LITHIUM BATTERY TECH APPLICATION.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - I WOULD [INAUDIBLE] CONSIDER 3 MINUTES.
I'M HERE FOR THE HOUSING, BUT THIS TOUCHES MY HEART BECAUSE I AM ONE OF THEM.
I'M A JUVENILE THAT WAS FIGHTING ADDICTION AND I WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE GROUP HOME THING AND LOTS OF COUNSELING.
AND NOW I'M HERE FIGHTING FOR HOUSING ELEMENT.
AND IT'S, IT'S JUST REALLY, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME NOW JUST BECAUSE IT'S REALLY EMOTIONAL.
MY NAME IS ERIK MARTENSEN AND I LIVE AT 2503 PAUL MINNIE AVENUE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS TO MEET WITH US AND DISCUSS UNIQUE SITUATIONS SURROUNDING A LOT OF 2507 PAUL MINNIE AVENUE, WHICH IS DIRECTLY BEHIND US.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANT DETAIL THAT MAKES THIS SITUATION UNLIKE ANY OTHER
[02:00:02]
IN THE 70 LOTS IN BATCH A AND B OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT.AND THE FACT THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT STREET ACCESS, INSTEAD IT RELIES ON EASEMENT THROUGH OUR NARROW PRIVATE DRIVEWAY, WHICH STRETCHES OVER 200 FEET.
WE MET WITH OUR SUPERVISOR, KOENIG, AND HE THOUGHT OUR SITUATION WAS UNIQUE AND HE'S BEEN HELPING FIND SOLUTIONS.
WE ALSO BEEN DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO IDENTIFY MORE SUITABLE LOTS.
WE SPOKE WITH PROJECT PLANNER, MARK PALMINI ABOUT THIS LOT AND THE LACK OF ACCESS.
HE THOUGHT THERE WERE OTHER EASEMENTS.
IN FRONT OF YOU IS A PHOTO OF THE LOTS WITH BOTH OUR PROPERTY AND THE PROPOSED REZONING LOT OUTLINED.
YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY THERE'S NO OTHER POSSIBILITIES OF CREATING ANOTHER, OF CREATING ANOTHER SAFE OR PURPOSELY BUILT ACCESS TO ACCOMMODATE THE 9 PROPOSED UNITS.
UNLIKE OTHER THOUGHTFUL PLAN DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE'S NO ROOM FOR SIDEWALKS, CURBS, OR ANY OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD ENSURE SAFETY FOR RESIDENTS.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE, YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER.
AND IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING ALL OF YOU AND APPRECIATE THE SPECIALISM OF YOU AND YOUR STAFF MEMBERS SHOWED US IN OUR MEETINGS.
I FEEL VERY HUMBLED AMONG ALL OF THE OTHER MUCH MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES, BUT UM, I JUST WANT TO START BY THANKING ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR VERY BUSY SCHEDULES TO REVIEW THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OUR PARTICULAR LOT.
AND TO SUPERVISOR KOENIG, THANK YOU FOR EXPLORING SOLUTIONS AND ALL OF YOUR TIME COMING OUT TO OUR PROPERTY AND CONSIDERATION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO THIS.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE ERIK'S STATEMENT ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE SITUATION THAT PUTTING 9 HOMES USING OUR LONG NARROW DRIVEWAY WOULD CREATE.
CURRENTLY WITH ONLY OUR HOUSEHOLD AND ONE FAMILY NEXT DOOR, THE DANCE OF COMING AND GOING IS VERY TRICKY.
I'M IMAGINING FAMILIES LIVING IN THOSE HOMES WITH CHILDREN WALKING DOWN A 200 FOOT LONG NARROW DRIVEWAY AND CARS COMING AND GOING AND TRYING TO GET TO SCHOOL AROUND THE CORNER.
THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF SAFELY DEVELOPED UH...
DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL HAVE SIDEWALKS AND CURBS TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE AND CARS TO COME AND GO, AND IT'S SIMPLY JUST NOT POSSIBLE IN OUR SITUATION.
ALLOWING THIS REZONING TO PROCEED UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT PLANNING DETAILS CAN BE RESOLVED LATER PUTS AN UNFAIR AND SIGNIFICANT BURDEN ON US.
WE WOULD BE FORCED TO DEFEND THE EASEMENT RIGHTS AGAINST DEVELOPERS WITH FAR GREATER RESOURCES THAN WE HAVE AND IT'S DAUNTING TO CONSIDER THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO REMORTGAGE OUR HOME.
WE'RE AT THE POINT OF OUR LIVES THAT WOULD MAKE THIS KIND OF LEGAL BATTLE SOMETHING WE COULD NOT EASILY FACE.
WE HOPE ANOTHER SOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND OR IS IN PROCESS AND THIS LOT IS TAKEN OFF THE HOUSING ELEMENT.
THIS HAS BEEN QUITE AN EYE-OPENER, THIS MEETING.
I'M HERE, I'M A PROPERTY OWNER ON PAUL MINNIE, THE UH, LOT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING, THE PRIVATE DRIVEWAY ABUTS OUR PROPERTY, AND, YOU KNOW, RUNS DOWN ONE SIDE TO THEIR FLAG LOT.
THIS PROPERTY IS A REAL ANOMALY AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE REQUESTING RECONSIDERATION OF IT BEING INCLUDED IN THIS PARCEL 40, OF 47 PROPERTIES.
ACCESS THROUGH A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY ONLY, AND ONE THING THAT I'D LIKE TO UM, QUESTION IS HOW IT GOT INTO THIS PROPERTY LIST BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THAT A PRIVATE COMPANY WENT AROUND AND SURVEYED USABLE LOTS AND THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A USABLE LOT AND THERE'S LIKE TWO POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS FOR THAT.
ONE IS THAT ALL THE ONLINE MAPS SHOW THIS PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AS A PUBLIC ROAD THAT'S MARKED AS MARIE WAY WHICH IS ACTUALLY ABOUT A PROPERTY DOWN FROM...
FROM THIS PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AND PERHAPS SOMEBODY THOUGHT, "OH, WELL, THERE'S ACCESS, THERE'S A ROAD THERE." THERE'S NOT.
THE OTHER IS THAT THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY IS A DEVELOPER, WHO MIGHT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING HE DOESN'T LIVE HERE IN THE COUNTY OR HIS PERMANENT RESIDENCE IS NOT HERE.
HE CLEARLY WOULD KNOW PEOPLE IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND APPARENTLY HEARD THINGS THAT WE NEVER DID.
I MEAN, OUR PROPERTY IS THE SAME SIZE AS HIS.
NO ONE EVER CAME TO US AND SAID, "OH, WELL, YOU COULD PUT 9 UNITS HERE IF YOU WANT TO REZONE." SO MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT THERE, THAT THIS IN MANY WAYS IS AN ANOMALY THAT FALLS OUTSIDE THE WAY IT WAS CHOSEN, ITS POSSIBLE USE, I MEAN, REAL USE FOR MORE HOUSING UNITS AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER
[02:05:01]
TAKING IT OFF THE LIST.[SILENCE] - HI, MY NAME IS ANNETTE DARQUES.
I AM ACTUALLY A NEW UH, PERSON TO CALIFORNIA AND ESPECIALLY TO THE SANTA CRUZ AREA.
THIS IS DEALING WITH REZONING, NOT THE ONES THAT WE HAVE HERE, PROBABLY THE SMALLEST LITTLE REZONING SPOT THAT WE HAVE IN SOCAL.
IT IS UH, AN AREA WHERE UH, CORNERS...
CORNER OF THE STREET OF MAIN AND BRIDGE.
THE PROPERTY WAS ZONED ORIGINALLY FOR 3 HOMES, ONE OF WHICH HAS BEEN BUILT.
BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT IT'S THE CHANGE THAT CAME THROUGH.
SO INSTEAD OF 2 ADDITIONAL HOMES BEING PLACED ON THIS, WE NOW HAVE 5 TOWNHOUSES THAT ARE GOING IN.
THERE WILL BE NO GREEN GRASS GROWING THERE.
I FIGURED THAT WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH IS AN INCREASE AND THIS IS WHY I LAUGH BECAUSE THE OTHER ZONING ONES HAVE MUCH MORE UH, CAR CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH.
BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY WITH A SCHOOL IS HAVING SOMEBODY WITH AN INCREASE OF MAYBE ORIGINALLY 6 OR 7 CARS, NOW DOUBLING IT AND INCREASING IT MAYBE UP TO 15 CARS.
SO WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PUT THE CARS? WE ALREADY HAVE AN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR 20 YEARS AND SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF SPACE TO PUT AN ADDITIONAL CAR AND YOU CAN'T GO DOWN TO THE PARKING LOT DOWN BELOW.
SO YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS.
WE WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER MAYBE KEEPING THE ORIGINAL UM, REZONING OR MAYBE LESSENING THE NUMBER OF TOWNHOUSES SO THAT YOU CAN PUT ADDITIONAL PARKING THERE FOR THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO BE UH, BUILT.
[SILENCE] - WELL, I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS MEETING UNTIL THIS MORNING SO I'M BASICALLY NOT VERY PREPARED BUT I...
MY NAME IS SEAN TORN AND I'M A CLIENT AT MHCAN.
THERE IS NO OTHER FACILITY IN TOWN THAT REALLY PROVIDES ANYTHING FOR SOMEBODY IN MY POSITION.
I'VE BEEN TO THE SANTA CRUZ SHELTER OVER ON CORAL STREET, AND THEY PROVIDE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
THEY WANT YOU TO FOLLOW THEIR STRICT PROTOCOL WITHOUT PROVIDING ANYTHING IN, IN THE LINE OF SERVICES.
AT LEAST AT MHCAN, THERE'S FOOD, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A PLACE TO CHARGE OUR DEVICES, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, AN OPEN ATMOSPHERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN STEP INSIDE WITHOUT BEING CAGED IN.
THE SANTA CRUZ SHELTER IS JUST NOTHING LIKE THAT AT ALL.
SO THE ONLY, THE ONLY FACILITY IN TOWN THAT PROVIDES FOR ANYBODY IN A POSITION LIKE MY OWN, IS MHCAN.
AND SO I JUST DECIDED, YOU KNOW, SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING UNTIL THIS MORNING, I WAS, I WAS ASKED IF I WOULD ATTEND THIS MEETING AND THERE IT IS.
MY NAME IS CYNTHIA DENNY AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL SIERRA CLUB AND I'M HERE JUST TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF WHERE THE SIERRA CLUB HAS ALWAYS STOOD AND WILL CONTINUE TO STAND ON ISSUES BEFORE THIS COUNTY BOARD TODAY, AS PARTICULARLY REGARDING PARK LANDS.
WE WILL BE SUBMITTING SOME OTHER THINGS TO YOU THIS WEEK, BUT UH, LET ME JUST BEGIN WITH THIS.
FOR ONE, WE BELIEVE IN KEEPING PUBLIC LANDS IN PUBLIC HANDS.
INCREASINGLY, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE APPROACHED TO SELL AND GIVE PUBLIC LANDS TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS SO THEY CAN BUILD HOUSING, OFFICE PARKS, AND BUSINESS BUILDINGS, WHICH ARE NEEDED.
ADDITIONALLY, THOSE SAME GOVERNMENTS ARE APPROACHED TO SELL TREES OR TO PROVIDE LAND FOR DETENTION BASINS.
THE RESULT IS THE PUBLICLY OWNED GREEN SPACE, PARKS, NATURAL AREAS, AND RECREATION AREAS ARE BEING LOST.
[PAUSE] OUR CHAPTER CHALLENGES THE PRIVATIZ- PRIVATIZATIONS, EXCUSE ME, OF URBAN PARKS AND GREEN SPACES.
PARKS AND RECREATIONS PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY, [PAUSE] SUCH AS HABITAT FOR WILD PLANTS AND ANIMALS, RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIKING, CAMPING, CANOEING, AND VIEWING WILDLIFE,
[02:10:04]
CLEANSE THE AIR, RETAIN AND ABSORB WATER, SEQUESTER CARBON.THEY PROVIDE RELAXATION, STRESS RELIEF, AND SATISFY SPIRITUAL NEEDS, WHICH WE'RE IN DIRE NEED OF THESE DAYS, PROVIDE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, THEY PROVIDE ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES WHEN VISITORS SPEND MONEY FOR THINGS SUCH AS HOTELS, GAS, AND RESTAURANTS, PROVIDE JOBS AND CAREERS TO PEOPLE WHO WORK IN PARKS AND RECREATION, BOTH IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR, AND THEY PRESERVE PLACES WHERE CHILDREN CAN LEARN ABOUT NATURE, SAFE-...
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO LISTEN TO ALL OF US.
I AM ADDRESSING ITEM NUMBER 7, WHICH IS REZONING PROPERTIES, SPECIFICALLY 2507 PAUL MINNIE AVENUE, WHICH MY NEIGHBORS JUST RECENTLY UH, SPOKE ABOUT AS PARCEL NUMBER 02604215.
I'M OPPOSING TO REZONING THE PROPERTY.
I'M THE HOMEOWNER AT 2455 PAUL MINNIE AVENUE, 161 FEET OF MY PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO THE DRIVEWAY THAT WOULD BE USED TO ACCESS THE PROPERTY PROPOSED FOR REZONING.
OVER 50 FEET OF MY ONE-STORY HOUSE IS WITHIN 5 FEET OF THE FENCE THAT RUNS ALONG THIS PARTICULAR PRIVATE DRIVEWAY.
MY HOME IS MY RETIREMENT HOME.
ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC ALONG THE PRIVATE DRIVEWAY ADJACENT TO MY FENCE WOULD DRASTICALLY AFFECT MY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, FROM CARS IDLING UM, IN THE DRIVEWAY AND STUFF TO GET OUT.
THE PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AT 2503 PAUL MINNIE IS ONLY 20 FEET WIDE.
IT IS DESIGNED TO BE A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY WHICH THE HOMEOWNER GRANTED EASEMENT ACCESS TO ONLY ONE OTHER RESIDENTIAL HOME.
THE DRIVEWAY WIDTH IS NOT SAFE FOR ADDITIONAL FOOT TRAFFIC, FOR FAMILIES TO WALK, AND WE ARE IN A SCHOOL ZONE.
ONLY 3, 3 TO 5 HOUSES FROM THE ENTRY TO A SCHOOL.
THERE'S NO ROOM FOR CURBS AND GUTTERS WHICH WOULD BE NEEDED FOR ADDITIONAL CARS.
I DEVELOPED MY OWN PROPERTY AND I KNOW THAT THE DRAINAGE FROM THAT DRIVEWAY DRAINS RIGHT INTO MY PROPERTY.
A HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE FEET OF IT.
TWO CARS CAN'T PASS SIDE BY SIDE, AS WELL AS CHILDREN WALKING TO SCHOOL.
WE ARE ONLY ONE HOUSE FROM A LARGE NURSING HOME WHO HAVE MANY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE CROSSING THIS DRIVEWAY.
ADDITIONAL CARS ENTERING AND EXITING THIS DRIVEWAY WOULD CREATE VERY UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR FAMILIES AND DISABLED PEOPLE.
PLEASE DO NOT REZONE THIS LANDLOCKED PIECE OF PROPERTY.
LET ME STRESS THAT THIS PARTICULAR LOT IS UNIQUE.
THERE'S NO FRONT STREET ACCESS TO THE LOT, SOMEONE'S PRIVATE DRIVEWAY IS THE ONLY ACCESS TO THIS LOT.
I'M NOT SURE THIS WILL GO AGAINST MY 2 MINUTES BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THE AGENDA FOR YOUR RULES AND REGULATIONS.
IF WE WANNA ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT IS AN AGENDA ITEM, ARE WE TO BE USING THIS TIME NOW OR ONCE THE ITEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC? - YOU CAN SAY IT NOW BUT YOU CAN SAY IT AT WHEN THAT ITEM COMES BEFORE US.
YOU CAN EITHER DO IT NOW OR WHEN THE AGENDA ITEM COMES UP.
SO I CAN COME BACK? - YES. - THANK YOU.
- THIS IS STILL PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR OPPORTUNITY AS WELL TOO THOUGH.
- I THOUGHT IT'S SOMETHING NEW.
- NO, IT'S SAME- SAME PUBLIC COMMENT.
[SILENCE] - I GOT A GOOD IDEA.
[INAUDIBLE] [SILENCE] - HELLO.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE PETERSEN AND I AM A RESIDENT OF LIVE OAK.
I HAVE EMAILED UM, SOME OF YOU FOLKS ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF THE HOUSING THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN LIVE OAK.
YES, WE NEED MORE HOUSING BUT JUST LOOKING AT THIS MAP HERE, I'M SEEING 10 PROPOSED PROJECTS WITHIN ABOUT...
FROM BETWEEN CHANTICLEER AND 17TH AVENUE, AND BROMMER AND CAPITOLA ROAD.
THAT JUST SEEMS REALLY EXCESSIVE.
YOU'RE GONNA PILE ALL THESE MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENCES IN SUCH A JUST SMALL COMPACT AREA.
I'M HOPING THAT YOU'LL RECONSIDER SOME OF THE SIZE OF THESE PROJECTS AND BRING THEM DOWN BACK TO, YOU KNOW, A LEVEL THAT FITS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW CAPITOLA ROAD'S GOT TONS OF TRAFFIC.
BROMMER NOW IS EXPERIENCING MUCH TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE CLOSURE OF THE BRIDGE AND I JUST THINK THAT IF YOU NEED TO DO 47 PARCELS AND 10 OF THESE ARE JUST IN THIS SMALL AREA THAT THEY NEED TO BE SPACED OUT AMONGST THE WHOLE COUNTY
[02:15:04]
AND IT SEEMS LIKE LIVE OAK IS PICKING UP THE BRUNT OF THESE HOUSING PROJECTS AND I, UM, I HATE TO SEE IT.I'M A FOURTH GENERATION SANTA CRUZ NATIVE AND IT'S JUST, I KNOW WE NEED SOME CHANGE BUT I THINK WE JUST NEED TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, JUST THAT DENSITY AND THAT SMALL OF AN AREA IS JUST GOING TO BE OVERWHELMING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
[SILENCE] - I'M HOMELESS AND I'M HERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF MHCAN.
THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE VALUE OF MHCAN, HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO SPOKE OF THE VALUE OF MHCAN TO THEMSELVES AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE CAN GET OUT THE SINCERITY OF THEIR WORDS.
I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW VALUABLE THE MHCAN IS TO ME.
I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT MHCAN IS VALUABLE TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESSMEN OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IS A LITTLE BIT LESS OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF MHCAN.
IF YOU TAKE THEM AWAY, IT'LL BE A LITTLE MORE OF A PROBLEM.
[SILENCE] - YEAH, GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS JAMES EWING WHITMAN.
YOU KNOW, THE FIRST TIME I WAS HERE OVER 5 YEARS AGO NOT ONE OF YOU FIVE SUPERVISORS WERE HERE, BUT TWO PUPPETS THAT CONTROL YOU GUYS WERE HERE AND I'M REFERRING TO CARLOS PALACIOS AND JASON HEATH.
YOU KNOW, I COULD BE REALLY IMPOLITE BUT YOU KNOW PEOPLE, IT'S- IT'S REALLY KIND OF CHALLENGING.
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS BORN IN 1912 AND MY GRANDMA-, GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN 1902.
I THINK OUR EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS STARTED NOT WITH MY GRANDPARENTS BUT WITH MY GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS.
YOU KNOW THIS IS A REALLY USEFUL DOCUMENT.
IT'S GOT OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
IF FOLKS WERE TO READ THAT THEY'D REALIZE WHAT FRAUDS YOU GUYS ARE.
YOU KNOW IT SAYS IN HERE GOD CREATED MAN, MAN CREATED GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT CREATED THE CORPORATIONS.
WHAT ABOUT THE PHILANTHROPIC, NON-TAX....
TAX-EXEMPT CORPORATIONS? YOU KNOW ROCKEFELLER WAS ABOVE THE SUPREME COURT BY 1913.
ROCKEFELLER AND A BUNCH OF OTHER CRIMINALS LIKE LELAND STANFORD, YOU KNOW, HELPED PERSIST...
HELPED CREATE WESTERN MEDICINE.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE A VERY CLOSE FRIEND.
HE ACTUALLY PUBLISHES HIS THINGS, WESTERN STATES MEDIA, EXCUSE ME, WESTERN STATES NEWS SERVICES, MR. GARY RICHARD ARNOLD.
HOPE HE FEELS BETTER, BUT IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE TRIES TO TELL ME TO READ ALL THESE BOOKS AND STUFF LIKE RULES FOR RADICALS, YOU KNOW, AND MANY OTHERS AND I DO READ QUITE A BIT BUT, YOU KNOW, IS HE ACTUALLY, ARE WE ALL PRACTICING WHAT WAS IN THE FLEXNER REPORT? YOU KNOW, BASICALLY I COULD MAYBE SUM IT UP AS, WITHOUT PROPER NUTRITION, MEDICINE IS OF NO USE.
WITH PROPER NUTRITION MEDICINE IS OF NO NEED.
THE DEGREES OF FRAUD GOING ON IN THIS ROOM AND THE HARM PARTICULARLY THAT THE TWO RESPONSIBLE ARE YOU MR. JASON HEATH AND YOU CARLOS PALACIOS.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE SEPARATED.
YOU KNOW, IN A FEUDALISTIC SOCIETY THEY TRY TO TEACH PEOPLE THAT THE PEOPLE WITH THE PITCHFORKS, THEIR ENEMIES ARE THE PEOPLE WITH THE RAKES.
AND IT'S JUST LIKE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHEN THEY DO...
I'M A RESIDENT UH, IN LIVE OAK.
I'M AN EDUCATOR, AN EMT, AND A RENTER.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE ISSUE OF HOUSING AND THE UPDATED ZONING BEFORE THE BOARD HERE TODAY.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT I HAVE HEARD HERE, INCLUDING FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THIS AND I FEEL LIKE I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS SITUATION FROM THOSE FOLKS SO THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAS SPOKEN HERE TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO OFFER MY THOUGHTS AROUND THIS AS SOMEONE WHO DEFINITELY EXPERIENCES THE- THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING IN THIS COUNTY, ESPECIALLY UM, WORKING IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND I THINK THAT I JUST WANTED TO UM, BRING MY VOICE HERE BEFORE THE BOARD TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE, UM, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THINGS ARE COMPLICATED, AND THESE CHANGES CAN BE DIFFICULT, BUT I THINK THAT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HAS TO CHANGE AND GROW IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ITS PEOPLE TODAY AND THE STUDENTS THAT I WORK WITH, WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO STAY HERE IN THE COUNTY AND HAVE THE COUNTY SERVE, UM, SERVE THEIR NEEDS IN- IN THE WAY THAT THEY DESERVE.
SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I'LL END MY COMMENT AT THIS POINT.
[02:20:04]
- GOOD MORNING.I REPRESENT THE OWNERS OF THE... ONE OF THE PARCELS THAT YOU GUYS ARE CONSIDERING FOR A REZONING KNOWN AS PAR 3 OFF OF MAR VISTA AND OLD DOMINION COURT AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE OWNERS.
THEY'RE ELDERLY, THEY CAN'T BE HERE, BUT THEY WANTED TO EXPRESS A SHOW OF UH, SUPPORT FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT AND THAT THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MITIGATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, TRAFFIC IMPACT AND WORKING WITH DEVELOPERS TO UH, DESIGN, LAY OUT FUNCTIONAL AND HIGH SCORING DEVELOPMENT FOR THE AREA THAT I THINK WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO UM, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT AND THAT ALSO I GET CALLS UM, FOR OTHER PROPERTIES AND I SEE THAT YOU HAVE SOME PROPERTIES HERE THAT PERHAPS RECEIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE SCRUTINY THAN PAR 3, UM...
YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE KITTY KORNER OFF THE FREEWAY AND STATE PARK THAT MIGHT MAKE A GOOD SITE, UM...
YOU GUYS MIGHT CONSIDER THAT AS ANOTHER ONE TO ROLL INTO THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNCTIONAL AND, UH, DO QUITE WELL IN PUTTING A NICE DENT IN THE ALLOCATION THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO SATISFY FOR THE STATE.
[SILENCE] - HI, MY NAME IS SAM OSLER, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT FOR KEEPING MHCAN OPEN.
[SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] COMING TO GET ME, MANU.
[INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] 13TH AVENUE.
IF WE CAN MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT ONLINE.
- YES, WE DO HAVE SPEAKERS ONLINE, CHAIR.
- CAN WE CHANGE IT? CAN WE DO IT FOR 1 MINUTE FOR FOLKS ONLINE? [SILENCE] [SILENCE] - EXCUSE ME, I'M CALLING A POINT OF ORDER.
IT SAYS RIGHT HERE THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE 30 MINUTES.
THIS HAS GONE ON FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR AND A HALF.
SO OUT OF ALL FAIRNESS, PEOPLE HAVE LEFT BECAUSE OF HOW LONG THAT'S GONE ON AND THE PEOPLE ON THE PHONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK FOR 2 MINUTES.
[SILENCE] - YOU, YOU CAN TAKE IT TO 1 MINUTE IF YOU WANT.
[SILENCE] - ALICE, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
[SILENCE] - HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? - YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
HI, MY NAME IS ALICE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT OF GEMMA, WHICH IS A VITAL PROGRAM IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY THAT HELPS WOMEN COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES WITH STRUCTURE, SUPPORT, AND DIGNITY.
GEMMA OFFERS MORE THAN RECOVERY.
IT PROVIDES TRANSFORMATION WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, THERAPY, LIFE SKILL TRAINING, AND HOUSING SUPPORT, WOMEN ARE GIVEN THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF RECIDIVISM AND CREATE STABLE, MEANINGFUL LIFE.
IN 2023, 85% OF PARTICIPANTS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED TO COMMUNITY-BASED AFTERCARE, FAR ABOVE NATIONAL AVERAGES.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE POWER OF THIS PROGRAM.
THROUGH GEMMA, I'VE GAINED EMOTIONAL STABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND SELF-WORTH.
I'VE LEARNED MINDFULNESS, SET HEALTHY BOUNDARIES, AND DEVELOPED REAL TOOLS FOR LASTING RECOVERY.
GEMMA ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH SUPERVISOR KOENIG'S VISION FOR A HEALTHIER, MORE SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, AND DIRECTLY SUPPORTS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY'S EFFORT TO REDUCE...
[SILENCE] - LOWELL, YOUR MICROPHONES NOW AVAILABLE.
LOWELL HURST HERE ON THE WEST SIDE, WEST SIDE OF WATSONVILLE.
YOU KNOW, I'M A LONG TIME RESIDENT AND, UH, AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT AND, AND THEN, AND I HEAR THE VERY COMPELLING COMMENTS TODAY AND, AND THE CRIES FOR HELP.
AND I, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE IS LISTENING AND TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO, UH, ALLEVIATE THIS, THIS HARDSHIPS.
BUT I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE SUPERVISORS
[02:25:02]
FOR THEIR FOCUS AND SUPPORT OF SOUTH COUNTY FOR ALL THE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, THE WORK ON THE RAIL TRAIL, YOUR WORK ON FLOOD CONTROL, THE CREATION OF THE COUNTY SERVICE CENTER.IT'S A, PROVIDING ACCESS TO OUR RESIDENTS.
AND THANKS FOR ALWAYS WORKING ON JOB AND HOUSING CREATION.
IN PARTICULAR, I WANNA THANK SUPERVISOR KIM DE SERPA IN DISTRICT 2, WHICH I'M A, A RESIDENT OF, FOR HER RECOGNITION OF, UH, KAREN DARLING.
AND, AND THAT, THAT, UM, MEMORIAL.
[SILENCE] - CALL IN USER 1, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
WE NEED TO REDIRECT THE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE US MILITARY BUDGET, GOING TO EXTERMINATE THE PALESTINIANS AND BOMB OTHER COUNTRIES.
WITH THESE FUNDS, WE COULD BAN, END HOUSELESSNESS, PROVIDE FOOD, NOT BOMBS, PROVIDE JOBS, MORE MONEY FOR PARKS AND OPEN SPACE AND ALL THE NEEDED SOCIAL AND THE MHCAN SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES DISCUSSED THIS MORNING.
THE PROBLEM ISN'T THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY, IT'S WHERE IT'S GOING.
I ACTUALLY CALLED TO ADDRESS VACCINES AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID THEY'RE UNAVOIDABLY UNSAFE.
I URGE PEOPLE TO EDUCATE BEFORE YOU VACCINATE.
AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF INFORMATION IS CHILDRENSHEALTHDEFENSE.ORG AND THE DEFENDER, AN ARTICLE BY MARY HOLLAND CALLED THE MEDIA PLAYBOOK FOR ME.
[SILENCE] - WE HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, CHAIR.
[SILENCE] - I'M GONNA INVITE YOU TO AN ICE CREAM SOCIAL, MANU AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE COME TO AN ICE CREAM SOCIAL.
I'LL PROVIDE THE ICE CREAM CONES.
WITH THAT, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'LL START TO MY RIGHT WITH SUPERVISOR DE SERPA.
- IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M JUST GONNA PASS ON MY COMMENTS.
JUST A COUPLE OF BRIEF COMMENTS ON ITEM 27, DIRECTING THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION TO REVIEW TWO POLICY OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
I JUST WANNA EXPLAIN THIS IS REALLY ABOUT TRYING TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR-SALE HOUSING, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, PARTICULARLY, UH, FOR A, UH, THROUGH ADUS.
I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE, I'D INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSAL, A DATE FOR THE HAC TO RETURN A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD BY AUGUST 19TH, 2025.
AND, UH, I'LL, I'M GONNA SUGGEST THAT WE MOVE THAT TO OCTOBER 7TH JUST TO GIVE, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES TO SEAT MEMBERS ON THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION AND TO GET A MORE THOROUGH REVIEW OF THESE POTENTIAL OPTIONS.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO NOTE ON ITEM 46, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE A DATE FOR THE OPENING OF THE CHILDREN'S CRISIS STABILIZATION PROGRAM FOR AUGUST 1ST OF THIS YEAR, WHICH IS FOUR MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
I WANNA THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THAT PROJECT.
- ANY COMMENT SUPERVISOR KOENIG? - YEAH, I...
I'M GONNA SUPPORT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 27 TODAY, BUT I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD SOME CONCERNS REGARDING IN PARTICULAR THE CON-, TURNING ADUS INTO CONDOS.
AND I THINK THERE'S SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL FOR US TO EXPLORE.
BUT GIVEN THAT THIS HAS JUST PROVIDED DIRECTION FOR THIS TO GO TO THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION TODAY AND HOPE WE CAN HAVE A MORE IN DEPTH DISCUSSION AS THIS, UM, PROCEEDS OVER TIME.
I JUST WANNA START OFF BY THANKING EVERYBODY WHO DID COME OUT TODAY.
WE HAD SOME EXTENSIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
MANY OF THOSE ARE GEARED TOWARDS THE UPCOMING BUDGET.
AND WE WILL BE HAVING A FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT ON ITEM NUMBER 8, AND THAT'S WHERE I'LL BE SHARING MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT'S BEING PROPOSED FOR US.
BUT I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT FOR US ON THE BOARD, A LOT OF US ARE, ARE REVIEWING THIS REALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND PERSONALLY I'M HOPING TO TAKE A VERY VALUES DRIVEN APPROACH TO THE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE UP BEFORE US.
[02:30:04]
ITEM NUMBER 2, THE FLAG AND LIGHTING POLICY SCHEDULE.I JUST WANNA THANK GSD FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AND FOR THE REVISED UPDATE THAT REALLY CLARIFIES THAT THE, UM, PRIDE LIGHTING WILL BE HAPPENING BETWEEN MAY 27TH AND JUNE 30TH FROM SUNSET TO SUNRISE.
AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR THIS TYPE OF RECOGNITION, BECAUSE IT REALLY HELPS VOICES BE HEARD.
AND, UM, ITEM NUMBER 27, THANK YOU SUPERVISOR KOENIG FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
ADUS ARE ONE OF THE ONLY WAYS THAT OUR...
THAT MY DISTRICT IS ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS.
AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEAT MEMBERS ON THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SAN LORENZO WAY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT MAKING SOME PROGRESS.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL MEMBERS OF CDI WHO HELPED BRING THIS FORWARD.
[PAUSE] SO FIRST OF ALL, I'D JUST LIKE WANNA THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME HERE AND SPOKE TO US ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES.
I THINK THE MOST DAUNTING TASK WE HAVE IS THE BUDGET, RIGHT? AND I THINK FOR, I THINK FOR A LOT, A LOT OF US, WE WANT THE BUDGET TO REFLECT OUR SHARED VALUES, SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND THE WELLBEING OF OUR RESIDENTS.
BUT WE'RE REALLY IN A TOUGH TIME AT THIS TIME, GIVEN THE, THE BUDGETS AT THE, AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THEN OF COURSE THE UNCERTAINTY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO IT'S, UM, GONNA BE A ROUGH ROAD AHEAD OF US.
WITH THAT, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
[CROSSTALK] - I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, WITH THE AMENDMENT OF ITEM 27TH FOR THE RETURN DATE TO BE OCTOBER 7TH INSTEAD OF AUGUST 19TH, 2025.
- I'LL SECOND AND JUST ADD THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ITEMS THAT BEEN PULLED OFF CONSENT.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM SUPERVISOR KOENIG, SECOND FROM SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS.
JUSTIN, WAS THAT 13 THAT WE'RE MOVING? - [INAUDIBLE].
- OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING ON TO 6.2.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO 6.1 FIRST.
[52. Accept and file the Collective of Results and Evidence-based (CORE) Investments Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023-24 and status update on Fiscal Years 2026-28 CORE contracts, approve agreement between the City of Santa Cruz and County related to CORE funding and contract administration, and take related actions]
- NO, WE'RE NOT.THAT ONE GOT MOVED TO 13, 13 'CAUSE THEY'RE BOTH ON THE SAME TOPIC.
SO 6.2, UM, WHICH WAS TO MOVE, WHICH WAS FORMALLY CONSENT ITEM NUMBER 42, THE SSP PROGRAM CHANGES.
I'D LIKE TO JUST INTRODUCE THIS ITEM BY SAYING THAT I SUPPORT ALIGNING OUR PRACTICES WITH THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION'S BEST PRACTICES
[42. Accept and file the County Health Officer's 2023-2024 Syringe Services Program Biennial Report and Safe Use and Overdose Prevention Program Hybrid Model Final Report and Program Updates 2023-2024, approve program recommendations, and take related actions]
AND ALLOWING THE HYBRID, UM, MOBILE PILOT TO BECOME A PERMANENT FEATURE OF THE PROGRAM.AND I WANNA THANK THE HSA STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS ITEM FOR MANY YEARS.
AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE PROVIDED INPUT ABOUT OUR OPERATIONS.
THE REASON I PULLED THIS ITEM IS BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMING OF SHIFTING TO A NEEDS-BASED EXCHANGE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PROPOSING TO END THE SYRINGE LITTER CONTRACTS WITH DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM FOR SANTA CRUZ AND THE COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD FOR WATSONVILLE.
ADDRESSING SYRINGE LITTER THROUGH THESE CONTRACTS WAS A BOARD DIRECTED ITEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
AND I'D FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE PRESERVING THE CONTRACTS UNTIL WE SEE WHETHER OUR SHIFT TO A NEEDS-BASED SYSTEM GENERATES MORE NEED FOR LITTER COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL.
SO WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT HSA FACES TOUGH BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS, BUT THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT TIME TO END THESE CONTRACTS, IN MY OPINION.
SO IF WE NEED TO LOCATE FUNDING FROM ANOTHER SOURCE, WE SHOULD DO SO AS A GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH, AND PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENT.
SO THEREFORE, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS WITH THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL DIRECTION, FOR STAFF TO MAINTAIN THE SYRINGE SERVICES CONTRACTS WITH DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM AND CAB IN, UH, FISCAL YEAR '25, '26, AND BRING BACK NON HSA FUNDING OPTIONS DURING THE JUNE BUDGET HEARINGS AND TO REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD WITHIN SIX MONTHS ABOUT THE LITTER CLEANUP PROCESS.
I APPRECIATE, UM, THE, THE COMMENTS SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ.
AND, AND ALSO JUST WANTED TO THANK STAFF FOR THE REPORT ON THIS AND, AND REALLY THE HUGE SUCCESS WE'VE SEEN WITH THE HYBRID PROGRAM.
I MEAN, ALMOST A DOUBLING OF CLIENTS AND PEOPLE SERVED.
[02:35:02]
I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE THE IMPROVED TRACKING OF REFERRAL SERVICES SO THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ENGAGING PEOPLE NOT ONLY ON SAFE USAGE PRACTICES, BUT THEN ALSO IDENTIFYING, UH, THE NEED FOR WOUND CARE, OR OTHER HEALTH SERVICES.I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY THE INTENTION OF THIS PROGRAM IS FOR IT TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO START THE CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE WHO, WHO NEED, UH, COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES.
AND I REALLY SEE THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THAT, IN A VERY STRONG DIRECTION AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY, UH, POSITIVE THAT THE REPORT WE ARE SEEING FROM THE DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM SHOWS...
I MEAN, LESS THAN 100 NEEDLES PICKED UP ALONG, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY ALL THE, THE FORMER HOT SITES, WHETHER THAT'S HARVEY WEST OR, OR ON THE RIVER LEVEE.
AND I, I BELIEVE THAT WE'LL PROBABLY SEE THAT CONTINUE.
BUT THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY A VALUE IN THIS INVESTMENT AT THIS TIME AS WE, AS WE LOOK AT CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT DATA TO, TO BACK UP ANY FURTHER CHANGES.
AND OF COURSE, UNDERSTANDING AS SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ SAID THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MANY CONSIDERATIONS WE HAVE WHEN WE LOOK AT FINALIZING THE BUDGET IN JUNE.
THEN WE'LL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WEIGH OPTIONS ON WHERE THAT MONEY'S COMING FROM AND, AND WHAT ELSE MIGHT NEED TO BE CUT AS A RESULT.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I WANNA SECOND THE MOTION.
[SILENCE] - RIGHT, WE HAVEN'T HAD PUBLIC COMMENT.
- SO, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? [SILENCE] ANYONE ON...
[SILENCE] - YEAH, HELLO, MY NAME IS STILL JAMES EWING WHITMAN.
I REALIZE THIS IS ABOUT THE SYRINGE PROGRAM, SO I'M JUST GONNA SAY THIS.
"VACCINATE VERB, AN INJECTION OF POISON USED TO CONTROL THE SLAVE CLASS MARKETED AS A MAGICAL CONCOCTION OF TOXIC MATERIAL THAT WILL MAKE EACH INJECTOR SUPER HEALTHY.
USED IN A SENTENCE, JIM VACCINATED NOW AND NOW HAS MYOCARDITIS, CAN'T FEED HIS FAMILY, AND HIS DOCTORS ARE [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE OF THE BONUSES THEY RECEIVED TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY." [PAUSE] YOU KNOW, THESE ARE SOME WELL-MEANING SERVICES, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SO A COUPLE YEARS AGO, GAIL... MURDER PUPPET, GAIL NEWEL, I'LL PUBLICLY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THE OVERDOSES FOR HEROIN WERE LOWER, BUT YOU KNOW, I GUESS I SPOKE ABOUT A GRAIN OF SAND OR TWO OR SUGAR OR SALT OR FENTANYL CAN CONTACT POISON CAUSE TO HAVE A REACTION THAT YOU CAN DIE FROM.
SO, I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA POINT OUT ALL THE FRAUD THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING INTO OR NOT LOOKING INTO OR IGNORING OR PRETENDING TO, BUT SOMEBODY'S GOTTA.
- ANYONE ONLINE? - YES, CHAIR.
ALICE, YOUR MICROPHONE'S AVAILABLE.
I USED TO BE PART OF THE DOWNTOWN STREET TEAM AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY WHO ARE PICKING UP THOSE SYRINGES.
AND TO BE HONEST, YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, THERE'S GONNA BE MORE SYRINGES AND I'M NOT GONNA PICK THEM UP.
[SILENCE] - DAWN, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
IT'S NONSENSE HOW YOU'RE RUNNING THESE MEETINGS RIGHT NOW.
OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT IS FOR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT IS NOT FOR AGENDA ITEMS, IT'S AGAINST ROSENBERG'S RULES, IT'S AGAINST ROBERT'S RULES.
IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO GENUINELY WANT TO USE THAT PART OF GOVERNMENT TO DISCUSS THINGS IMPORTANT TO THEM.
SO THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO DO THIS.
IT IS JUST LIKE A SIGN OF SYSTEMIC INCOMPETENCE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY OTHER MUNICIPALITY DO THIS.
I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY AND I'M MAKING THIS COMMENT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER 'CAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T FOLLOW ANY OF THE RULES ANYWAY.
RUN YOUR MEETINGS THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE RUN, PLEASE.
I LIKE, I CAN'T TAKE THIS PLACE ANYMORE.
EVERYTHING IS SO PAPER THIN AND INCOMPETENT.
WITH THAT, WE'LL BRING IT BACK, UNLESS THERE'S ANY MORE.
- THERE ARE ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS, CHAIR.
CALL IN USER 2, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
IF PEOPLE HAD JOBS AND HOUSING AND FOOD
[02:40:04]
AND LIVED IN A SOCIETY THAT PROVIDED FOR THE WELLBEING OF EVERYONE, WE WOULD HAVE FAR, FAR FEWER CASES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ADDICTED TO DRUGS.IT'S A SOCIETAL, STRUCTURAL PROBLEM.
AND I DO THINK THOUGH, SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ'S, RECOMMENDATION MOTION, UM, SOUNDS WORTHWHILE.
[SILENCE] - FLORES, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
UM, I JUST WANNA, UH, ADDRESS THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED IN, UH, ALL COMMUNITIES AND, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PREVENTATIVE AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE ALREADY BEING TAKEN AWAY.
YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, COMMUNITY NEEDS THOSE SERVICES.
IF YOU TAKE THAT AWAY, I THINK SOMEBODY SAID THERE WOULD BE MORE SYRINGES.
SO THE FACT THAT WE ARE PROVIDING AWARENESS EDUCATION AROUND THESE SERVICES ARE...
ARE PART OF KEEPING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.
[SILENCE] - WE HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS ONLINE, CHAIR.
I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
BUT I DO WANT TO BRING UP, UM, STAFF BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ADDRESSING BUDGETARY ITEMS AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS.
IT'S, IT'S, THERE'S A FEASIBILITY WITH IT AS WELL.
- DO YOU THINK THAT IT IS, UM...
BECAUSE THERE'S A, THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE NOT CONSIDERING...
- IF YOU WANNA LIFT THE MICROPHONE? - YES.
SO WITH THIS, WITH THE PROBLEM WITH THE SYRINGES, LIKE I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU GUYS WERE COMING AFTER THE, UH, DOWNTOWN STREETS THING, TEAM TOO.
IT'S LIKE, SO YOU'RE TAKING ALL THE SERVICES AWAY FROM THEM AND THEN YOU'RE MAKING IT SO THEY CAN'T EVEN COME PICK UP YOUR TRASH FOR SOME GIFT CARDS.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE SYRINGES.
NUMBER 1, UH, I'M FORTUNATE THAT MOST OF THE TIME I'M IN A POWER CHAIR, BUT IF I'M IN A MANUAL CHAIR AND ONE OF MY...
AND A SYRINGE HITS MY CHAIR, GUESS WHAT? TIRES POPPED.
WHEN AM I GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD ANOTHER... MORE OF THEM.
WHAT ABOUT KIDS AND DOGS THAT COULD STEP ON THOSE SYRINGES? WHAT ABOUT LIKE ALL THESE PE...
THERE'S ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU'RE NOT AT ALL CONSIDERING, THE AMOUNT OF DANGER...
THE LIKE DANGER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALLOWING IN THE FUTURE BY LETTING THESE SYRINGES JUST SIT ON THE GROUND WITHOUT ANYBODY TO PICK THEM UP IS JUST RIDICULOUS.
AND I HOPE THAT IF YOU REALLY....
IF YOU REALLY GO THROUGH WITH THIS, I HOPE THAT YOU CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THE, THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL THE PREVENTABLE PROBLEMS THAT'S GONNA COST.
[PAUSE] SO I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP STAFF AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THE BUDGETARY ISSUE BEHIND THIS, BUT ALSO I WANNA KNOW BECAUSE...
I WANNA KNOW A DIFFERENCE IN FUNDING LEVELS FOR THE SANTA CRUZ STREETS TEAM, AND OF COURSE WATSONVILLE AS WELL.
AND IF THERE'S EQUITY IN THAT.
- YEAH, FOR CLARIFICATION, AND APOLOGIES.
THERE'S, I THINK, TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE CLEAR.
AT YOUR AGENDA, YOU SEE OUR PROPOSAL FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CDC RECOMMENDED INTERVENTIONS, AND THAT'S THE SUPPLY OF, UM, NEEDLES, RIGHT? I THINK WHAT SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ IS BRINGING UP IS A DIFFERENT AGENDA ITEM OR A DIFFERENT ITEM, WHICH IS THE REDUCTION OF CUTS FOR THE DOWNTOWN STREET TEAM.
SO I JUST WANNA SEPARATE THEM TO BE CLEAR.
AND I ALSO, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, WHAT SHE IS PROPOSING IS THAT NON-HSA FUNDS ARE IDENTIFIED TO SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN STREET EFFORTS.
- IT'S STILL BUDGET THOUGH, CORRECT? - IT IS STILL BUDGET, AND UNFORTUNATELY...
- OR IS IT STAFFING? - AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO CONTINUE.
PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, WAS GETTING THAT MONEY OUT OF THEIR GENERAL ALLOCATION, AND WE NO LONGER HAVE THE ABILITY TO FUND IT.
WE DO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ FOR THESE EFFORTS.
THEY FUND A PORTION OF IT, AND WE FUND THE OTHER PORTION OF IT AS WELL.
- DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PORTIONS ARE BETWEEN SOUTH COUNTY AND SANTA CRUZ? - SURE, I'LL, I'LL ASK DR. HERNANDEZ TO SHARE THOSE WITH YOU.
DR. HERNANDEZ'S, HEALTH OFFICER.
THIS IS FOR FISCAL YEAR '24/'25, FOR DOWNTOWN STREETS
[02:45:03]
IT IS, UM, $88,376.04.AND FOR COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD, IT'S $40,000.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S FOR, UM, FISCAL YEAR AGAIN, '24/'25.
- NOW, IS THAT BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY ASKED FOR OR WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE DISPARITY IN FUNDING? - THE EFFORT IN THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN LONGSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ.
IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY THAT WE TRIED TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TO SOUTH COUNTY.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE REQUEST.
I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A FUNDING, UM, SITUATION AND DISPARITY, TO BE QUITE HONEST.
- AND I'LL ADD JUST ONE THING.
THERE WAS A SYRINGE LITTER ASSESSMENT AND THAT'S HOW WE IDENTIFIED THE HOTSPOTS.
SO I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO, TO THAT AS WELL.
- SO THE DISPARITY IS AN EQUITY ISSUE THEN? - YES, I MEAN, WHEN WE LOOK, THERE'S TWO, THERE'S MULTIPLE EFFORTS IN THE DOWNTOWN STREETS, RIGHT? THEY DO LITTER CLEANUP, AND IT'S BROADER THAN JUST SYRINGE AND NEEDLES.
THEY ALSO PICK UP OTHER ITEMS AS THEY'RE GOING.
SO IT, UM, SPECIFICALLY WHEN WE LOOK AT NEEDLES, THOUGH, WE DID SEE A LARGER AMOUNT IN THE NORTH PART OF THE COUNTY VERSUS THE SOUTH.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T DONE A RECENT ASSESSMENT.
AND SO WHEN YOU'RE ASKING ME ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN ALLOCATIONS, I'M KIND OF GOING BROADER, NOT JUST ON THE NEEDLE EXCHANGE DATA THAT WE HAVE.
- SO WHAT FUNDING SOURCES DO YOU SEE IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN? - WE UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT HAVE ANY GRANT OR FUNDING RIGHT NOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS EFFORT.
- SO CHAIR HERNANDEZ, UM, I, I AGREE THAT THERE'S, THERE'S TWO ISSUES HERE.
ONE IS THE PROGRAM ISSUE AND THE OTHER IS THE BUDGET ISSUE FOR DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM AND CAB.
SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT WE SEPARATE THOSE ISSUES, HAVE THE PROGRAM ISSUES HERE, AND THEN THE, UH, BUDGET ISSUE WITH THE BUDGET, BECAUSE THOSE ARE SEPARATE ISSUES AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK, AND, AND AT THAT POINT, THE MOTION COULD BE MADE TO DIRECT US TO COME BACK WITH OPTIONS FOR FUNDING WITH THE BUDGET.
AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK DURING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
- MAY I, JUST, JUST TO EMPHASIZE THE PURPOSE BEHIND MY MOTION, CAO PALACIOS.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IN ITEM NUMBER 42, WE ARE ACCEPTING THE REPORT AND WE ARE ADOPTING A PROGRAMMATIC CHANGE TO GO TO A NEEDS-BASED SERVICE OF, UM, SYRINGE EXCHANGE, WHICH IS SOMETHING I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT.
IN PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS WHEN DISCUSSING THE TYPE OF SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROCESSES, THE BOARD DETERMINED THAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S LITTER CLEANUP BASED ON HOTSPOTS THAT MAY BE A RESULT OF OUR, UH, SYRINGE EXCHANGE SERVICES.
SO IN THIS BOARD ITEM, THERE'S BOTH THE PROPOSAL TO GO TO A NEEDS-BASED EXCHANGE AND A PROPOSAL FROM, FROM THE WAY I'M READING IT, TO REDUCE THE LITTER CLEANUP CONTRACT IN THE UPCOMING...
THAT WILL BE IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THESE THINGS LINKED BECAUSE I, I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S A VERY RESPONSIBLE DECISION TO MAKE A CHANGE TO OUR PROGRAM PRACTICES.
AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE ARE REDUCING THE LITTER CLEANUP, UM, CONTRACT, I WOULD PREFER TO KEEP THAT CONTRACT MOVING FORWARD FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR TO MONITOR THE DATA ON THE LITTER CLEANUP TO SEE IF OUR DECISION TODAY IMPACTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, AND IN, UH, IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION, THE REASON I'M ASKING FOR NON-HSA FUNDING IS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE HSA BUDGET AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH BUDGET IS CONSTRAINED.
AND SO MY, MY REQUEST IS THAT YOUR OFFICE COMES BACK TO US DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T BE TODAY WITH ALTERNATIVE SOURCES TO FUND THAT CONTINUED CONTRACT WITH DOWNTOWN STREET'S TEAM AND CAB.
[SILENCE] - SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS.
I JUST WANT TO, UM, CLARIFY THAT I, AND I AGREE WITH THE CAO, I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF FOLKS TODAY WHO WANT TO HEAR US FUND A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, AND THE BUDGET CONVERSATION IS THE PLACE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
AND SO, I MEAN, WE HEARD FOLKS TALKING ABOUT MHCAN, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, POSITIONS IN, UH, HSA
[02:50:01]
THAT WANNA BE FUNDED? I MEAN, I THINK THE PURPOSE OF US HAVING THESE MUCH DISCUSSIONS IS SO WE CAN BRING UP OUR PRIORITIES.AND SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE THAT ON OUR AGENDA, AND THAT'S PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION TO EXPRESS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANNA SEE FUNDED MOVING FORWARD.
AND SO FOR ME, I'M MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE JUST MOVING WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THE CONVERSATION AROUND DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM AND ALL OF OUR, THE PRIORITIES AS WE'RE DISCUSSING IT IN THE BUDGET, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE WANNA SEE FUNDED.
AND THAT I THINK IS APPROPRIATE TIME TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
- CAN WE MOVE WITH THE, JUST THE RECOMMENDED ACTION FROM THE, FROM THE STAFF AND THEN MOVE THE BUDGET DISCUSSION FOR ITEM NUMBER 7? - YOU COULD, YOU COULD DO THAT.
WE COULD DISCUSS THE FUNDING FOR DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAMS, AND CAB DURING THE BUDGET DISCUSSION.
ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE, YOU COULD POSTPONE ACTION ON THIS ITEM UNTIL AFTER THE BUDGET'S DECIDED.
YOU COULD JUST, YOU KNOW, POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO TILL AFTER A FUTURE DATE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY TIME SENSITIVITY TO IT.
AND SO THEN YOU COULD COME, DO THE BUDGET FIRST AND THEN COME BACK AND MAKE THIS DECISION AS WELL.
THAT'D BE ANOTHER OPTION FOR YOU.
- WE COULD DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK MOTION VOTES...
- WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
- WHAT'S THAT? - SINCE I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, WHY DON'T WE CALL A VOTE ON THE MOTION AND THEN SEE WHAT...
WE HAD TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT AND...
- I MADE A MOTION AND SUPERVISOR KOENIG SECONDED IT.
WE HAD TO DO, WE HAD TO DO A PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THAT, BEFORE WE DECIDED ON IT.
- I THINK THERE IS A SECOND, ACTUALLY, SUPERVISOR KOENIG'S SECOND.
BUT I, WHILE I SUPPORT THE FIRST AND THE SECOND, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED ON PROCESS HERE.
SO THAT WAS GONNA BE MY QUESTION BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A BUDGET HEARING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.
I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE MAKING DECISIONS ON THOSE BUDGET THINGS TODAY.
CORRECT? THAT COMES IN A FUTURE BOARD MEETING.
AFTER CONSIDERATION, AFTER WE SEE THE MAY REVISE, AFTER A LOT OF THINGS GET PUT ON THE TABLE.
IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING? OKAY.
SO BECAUSE IN THE BUDGET, WELL, I, I DON'T KNOW, I SHOULD PROBABLY SAVE MY COMMENTS FOR THE BUDGET HEARING.
- BUT I JUST, IT, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY THAT THERE'S A REDUCTION PROPOSED IN THE DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM FOR LIKELY AN FTE.
AND SO IT'S JUST, UH, SAD AND INTERESTING TO ME THAT THIS COMES BEFORE US WITH OUR, WITH OUR, WITH POTENTIALLY OUR RECOMMENDATION TO CONTINUE THE CONTRACT WHEN WE ARE IN FACT PROPOSED TO REDUCE, YOU KNOW, A, A IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM.
SO I'M OKAY ACTUALLY WITH WHAT, UM, OUR CEO PALACIOS PROPOSED IN HOLDING, UM, SOME OF THIS UNTIL WE KNOW BETTER WHAT OUR BUDGET IS.
I DO SUPPORT YOUR MOTION ACTUALLY, MONICA, BUT I, I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD WAIT TO, TO SEE SORT OF WHERE THINGS FALL, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
I WAS GONNA SAY ONE OTHER THING.
[PAUSE] THIS HASN'T REALLY COME BEFORE US, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THERE'S BEEN A REDUCTION IN SYRINGE EXCHANGE ANYWAY, AND I THINK SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE RAMPANT AMOUNT OF FENTANYL ON THE STREET, THAT PEOPLE ARE USING OPIOIDS IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN EVER BEFORE.
AND, UM, AND WITH THE ADDITION OF MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, I THINK THAT'S AGAIN REDUCED PEOPLE'S RELIANCE ON SYRINGES.
SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF IT'S STILL A GIANT PROB-, LIKE, I'D LIKE TO HEAR STAFF COME UP AND TELL US WHAT THE ACTUAL INCIDENCES ARE, PROBLEMS ARE, AND IT'S, IT IS PARTLY IN THE BACKUP.
I SEE SOME OF IT, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR ORALLY SO WE COULD ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
- SO YOU'RE SAYING TO POSTPONE THE ITEM AND BRING IT BACK? - I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.
- AND DISCUSS THE BUDGETARY ITEMS ON, DURING THE BUDGETARY HEARING? - YEAH.
- OKAY, IS, IS THAT A MOTION OR IS THAT DIRECTION? - WELL, IF I, IF I MAY CHAIR, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE AT LEAST ADOPT RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 1 THROUGH 3.
AND THEN I THINK REALLY THE QUESTION IS IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE TOWARDS A NEEDS-BASED MODEL THAT WE HAVE SOME KIND OF MEASUREMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, GIVEN THAT THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A, A POINTED TOPIC IN OUR COMMUNITY IN THE PAST.
I'D BE PREPARED TO MOVE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 1 THROUGH 3 TODAY AND HAVE 4 COME BACK TO US AT, YOU KNOW, AS, UM, DURING OR AFTER BUDGET HEARINGS.
- PARDON ME, A POINT OF ORDER.
YOU NEVER CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT IS VERY NEW TO THIS PROCESS.
I ASK THAT YOU ALLOW THIS MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE.
[02:55:01]
LISTEN, I'M ONLY 74, BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M 30 AGAIN.OKAY? AND I'VE COME HERE TO SAY I WANNA INVITE ALL YOU GUYS TO COME VISIT, VISIT MHCAN YOU AND YOU TOO, MR., WHOEVER YOU WAS ARE.
- WELL, THAT'S NOT THE TOPIC RIGHT NOW, MA'AM.
I OWN A PROPERTY 244 13TH AVENUE.
THEY SLEEP ON THE FRONT BENCH.
ALL MY NEIGHBORS ON 12TH AND 14TH HATE ME.
IN FACT, I'M GONNA PUT ON MY, MY...
- BUT MA'AM, THIS AIN'T, THIS AIN'T ON THE TOPIC THOUGH.
I'M INVITING YOU TO AN ICE CREAM SOCIAL OVER AT MHCAN.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS? CAYUGA? EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE IT IS? SO COME ON OVER THERE, THERE'S COFFEE AND BRING DONUTS.
COME ON, LOOK AT THAT [INAUDIBLE].
OKAY, SO I'M, I'M ON MY HOUSE, 244 13TH AVENUE.
I'M GONNA PUT "HASTA LA VISTA BABY!" OKAY? AND I'M GONNA CHARGE PEOPLE $5, $10, A COUPLE OF...
THIS IS REALLY NOT ON TOPIC, MA'AM.
IT'S NOT, THIS IS NOT ON TOPIC.
- [INAUDIBLE] THIS... [LAUGHS] THIS IS NOT ON THE TOPIC, MA'AM.
- MMH? - [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] - OKAY, THANK YOU, MA'AM.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON NOW.
SO WE HAVE AN ALTERNATE MOTION.
WAS THAT AN ALTERNATE MOTION AND A SECOND? - YEAH, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
- SO I JUST NEED TO [INAUDIBLE].
- IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ON IT, WE'LL...
- DO WE HAVE A SECOND? OKAY, WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE].
- SO CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE? [PAUSE] CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE? - YES.
- WE CAN, WE, WE CAN TAKE, WE CAN TAKE A BREAK AND CLEAR THE ROOM IF WE, IF WE NEED TO DO THAT, IF THE BOARD IS DISRUPTED FROM CONTINUING THE MEETING, IF THAT'S AN OPTION.
- DO YOU WANNA GO AHEAD? - YES, LET'S TAKE THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
- AND FOR THE CLARIFICATION OF THE RECORD, THIS IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION COMING FROM SUPERVISOR KOENIG AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS TO ADOPT RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 1 THROUGH 3 WITH RECOMMENDED ACTION 4 BEING, UH, CONTINUED...
- POSTPONED TILL THE BUDGET...
MOTION PASSES WITH ONE NO VOTE, SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ.
- OKAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A BREAK.
[SILENCE] - RECORDING STOPPED.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE]
[03:00:05]
[SILENCE] - WE'RE GONNA GO INTO CLOSED SESSION NOW AND THERE'S...AND THERE'S NOTHING REPORTABLE COMING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.
CAN YOU PLEASE RESTATE THAT FOR THE RECORD? - SAY IT...
- CAN YOU PLEASE RESTATE THE, UH, REPORTABLE ACTIONS FOR...
- THERE'S NO REPORTABLE ACTIONS COMING OUT OF THE CLOSED SESSION.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE]
[03:05:03]
- RECORDING IN PROGRESS.[SILENCE] - HEY, WELCOME EVERYBODY BACK TO THE BOARD OF...
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.
WE DO HAVE A SCHEDULED ITEM AT 1:30 AND WE WILL BE MOVING 6.3 TO AFTER 16 TOWARDS THE END OF THE AGENDA.
[PAUSE] SO THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS NUMBER 15,
[15. Presentation recognizing members of the community who have participated in the Volunteer Initiative Program and the Sheriff’s Volunteer Program]
THE PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE PROGRAM AND THE SHERIFF'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CEO, CARLOS PALACIOS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
- YES, CHAIR HERNANDEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THE VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE VOLUNTEER CENTER OF SANTA CRUZ AND THE COUNTY.
MATCHING INTERESTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THE COUNTY IS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A DEDICATED GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS.
WE ARE HAPPY TO WELCOME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VOLUNTEER CENTER, KAREN DELANEY AND SHERIFF CHRIS CLARK, BOTH OF WHOM WILL BE MAKING BRIEF REMARKS AND PRESENTING CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION.
ALSO, JOINING US TODAY FROM THE VOLUNTEER CENTER ARE SUSAN RYDER AND CHRISTINA THURSTON.
NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS... TO KAREN.
[SILENCE] - THANK YOU MR. PALACIOS, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
IT IS GLOBAL VOLUNTEER MONTH, AND WE USUALLY COME EVERY YEAR AS PART OF OUR CELEBRATION.
AND I KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS FACING A LOT OF REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND ISSUES.
WE BELIEVE THAT TIME TO DOUBLE DOWN AND CELEBRATE WHAT WORKS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO WE ARE REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE.
THE, UM, 10 PEOPLE AND GROUPS YOU'RE RECOGNIZING TODAY ARE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN THIS AMAZING PROGRAM.
IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW THAT, UM, LAST YEAR ALONE, OVER 1500 PEOPLE VOLUNTEERED AT THE COUNTY THROUGH THE VIP PROGRAM.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED PEOPLE LOVE THEIR COMMUNITY SO MUCH THAT THEY CHOSE TO SHOW UP IN SERVICE.
THAT, UM, WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER IS REALLY KIND OF AMAZING.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF VOLUNTEERING AND WHY IT'S A SMART INVESTMENT AND WHY IT'S A SMART THING THAT YOU SUPPORT YOUR VOLUNTEERS, WE TALK ABOUT A TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE.
FIRST, THERE'S ACTUALLY THE VALUE, THE VALUE OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
CHRISTINA, LAST YEAR ALONE, VOLUNTEERS DONATED $2.2 MILLION WORTH OF THEIR TIME AND SKILLS TO THIS COUNTY, ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEER HOUR.
WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS IN 22 DEPARTMENTS WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOUR STAFF.
NOT ONLY DOES VOLUNTEERING GET IMPORTANT WORK DONE FOR THE COUNTY, VOLUNTEERS ARE PARTNERS, EVANGELISTS WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF NEGATIVE COMMENTS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING'S BROKEN, HOW GOVERNMENT IS PERHAPS THE ENEMY.
THEY JUST HAVE POSITIVE, HOPEFUL SOLUTIONS.
THEY'RE PARTNERS WITH YOUR STAFF.
THEY LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, AND THEY SAY SO EVERY DAY WITH THEIR TIME AND THE TALENTS.
VOLUNTEERING IS GREAT FOR THE PERSON WHO VOLUNTEERS.
THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF VOLUNTEERING ARE SO POSITIVE THAT THEY ARE ON PAR, ACCORDING TO THE SURGEON GENERAL, WITH GIVING UP TWO-PACK-A-DAY SMOKING HABITS.
VOLUNTEERS ARE HEALTHIER, HAPPIER, LIVE 2 YEARS LONGER THAN NON-VOLUNTEERS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALTHOUGH HARDEST TO QUANTIFY, VOLUNTEERING IS A WAY TO BUILD CIVIC CAPITAL.
COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH VOLUNTEER RATES, AND WE'RE PROUD TO SAY THAT WHILE VOLUNTEER RATES HAVE BEEN FALLING NATIONALLY, HERE IN THE COUNTY VIP PROGRAM AND IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, WE HAVE BEEN OUTPACING, THEY'VE BEEN GROWING YEAR OVER YEAR.
WHEN PEOPLE SHOW UP IN COMMUNITY THEY VOTE MORE, THEY DONATE MORE TO NONPROFITS.
THERE IS GREATER CIVILITY IN DISCUSSION.
THERE IS GREATER COMMUNICATION.
PEOPLE CONNECT ACROSS DIFFERENCES, AND WE ARE LIVING IN THE SAME HEADLINES EVERY DAY MORE THAN EVER.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO STOP AND NOT ONLY SAY THANK YOU TO THE...
ABOUT A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEERED WERE ADULT, TO SAY THANK YOU TO THOSE FOLKS WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY IN A TRADITION OF DEMOCRACY, IN LOVE AND SERVICE, AND BRING SOLUTIONS AND HOPE TO THE TABLE.
[03:10:03]
AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR THAT FROM THE FOLKS TODAY.AND, UM, WE USUALLY COME JUST SAYING THANK YOU, BUT THIS YEAR WE HAVE TWO ASKS.
ONE IS AN ASK OF OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS.
I'VE NEVER MET A VOLUNTEER WHO WAS BEING HONORED WHO DIDN'T SAY SOME VERSION OF, "WELL, I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING SPECIAL.
I DON'T REALLY DESERVE THIS." AND I JUST REALLY THINK PART OF HOW WE PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN A CULTURE OF LOVE OF COMMUNITY AND CIVIC SPACE IS FOR PEOPLE TO TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE AND BRAG, LIKE OWN THE BEAUTY, BRAG A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW IT MAKES IT FEEL.
IF YOU DON'T WANNA BRAG ABOUT YOURSELF, BRAG ABOUT THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS YOU WORK WITH.
AND FOR, FOR OUR PARTNERS IN THE COUNTY AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY, DON'T JUST MAKE IT ONCE A YEAR.
EVERY PLACE YOU GO, EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A MIC IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE 1 MINUTE, WHETHER YOU'RE A STAFF MEMBER OR A BOARD MEMBER AND SAY, "HEY, SHOUT OUT, HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD, HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE VOLUNTEERING?" "THANK YOU." BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE ASTONISHED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE DOING GREAT WORK QUIETLY WITHOUT NOTICE.
AND IF WE WANNA TURN THE TIDE ON GETTING BACK TO A CULTURE OF GRATITUDE, OF GIVING THE MIC TO PEOPLE WHO DO GOOD, NOT JUST TALK ABOUT STUFF.
WE ALL HAVE THE POWER EVERY TIME WE HAVE A MIC IN FRONT OF US TO HELP DO THAT.
SO DURING VOLUNTEER WEEK, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE VOLUNTEERS, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE PARTNERSHIP, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE STAFF THAT ARE WELCOMING AND WORK WITH THEM.
AND WE ARE HOPEFUL FOR OUR FUTURE BECAUSE OUR FOLKS KNOW HOW TO STAND UP AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, BRING UP AND EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO OUR TEAM.
I'M GETTING OVER A LITTLE, UH, COLD.
SO CHRISTINA IS GOING TO READ OUT THE NAMES OF THE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE FIRST DEPARTMENTS AND I, AND INVITE YOU TO COME UP AND GIVE OUT...
HELP US GIVE OUT CERTIFICATES.
AS WE RECOGNIZE THE RECIPIENTS, I'LL READ THEIR NAME, THEY'LL COME UP TO GET THEIR AWARD AND SUPERVISORS COME ON DOWN TO SAY YOUR REMARKS.
OUR FIRST HONOREE IS DAN SCHALLER, AND SUPERVISOR KOENIG IS GONNA...
SO DAN IS AN INCREDIBLE PART OF OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
A BELOVED PART OF THE FIRST DISTRICT, AND HE ALWAYS SHOWS UP WITH A BIG HEART AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
AND EVERY WEEK, YOU'LL FIND HIM WALKING DOGS AND HELPING MENTOR NEW VOLUNTEERS, MAKING SURE THEY FEEL SUPPORTED AND READY TO JUMP IN.
DAN ALSO PITCHES IN WITH OUR HEALTHY PETS FOR ALL TEAM, HELPING TO PROVIDE FREE VACCINES TO PETS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND LENDING A HAND AT SPAY AND NEUTER EVENTS.
AND WHENEVER THERE'S AN URGENT NEED AT THE SHELTER, WE KNOW WE CAN TURN TO HIM FOR HELP.
DAN IS KIND, ENGAGED, AND WISE, AND WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HIM ON THE TEAM.
THANK YOU, DAN, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
BEFORE YOU GO, DO YOU WANNA BRAG A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW, HOW WONDERFUL IT'S TO WORK AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER? - YEAH, I'D LIKE TO JUST THANK THE STAFF AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THEM.
YOU REALLY WON'T FIND A GROUP OF HARDER-WORKING, MORE DEDICATED PEOPLE.
IT'S A THANKLESS JOB A LOT OF TIME, AND THEY SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO LEARN FROM THEM.
- OUR NEXT, OUR NEXT HONOREE IS KAREN SCOTT.
SHE'S UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY, BUT WE'RE STILL GONNA SAY A FEW WORDS.
WE'RE GONNA SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT YOU, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE OR NOT.
KAREN IS A DEDICATED AND SKILLED VOLUNTEER WHO PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN SEVERAL OF OUR PROGRAMS AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
SHE IS A REGULAR AT HEALTHY PETS FOR ALL CLINICS AND AT OUR COMMUNITY VACCINATION CLINICS, WHERE SHE HELPS PREPARE VACCINES AND WORKS HARD TO KEEP EVERYTHING RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
KAREN HAS ALSO HELPED OUT AT THE ANIMAL BALANCE COMMUNITY SPAY AND NEUTER EVENTS, TAKING CARE OF INSTRUMENT CLEANING AND PREP, IN ADDITION TO HELPING WITH VARIOUS TASKS AT THE CLINIC WITHIN THE SHELTER.
KAREN IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP, BRINGS A GREAT ATTITUDE, AND DOES AN AMAZING JOB WITH WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE.
YOU MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
- PASS IT OFF TO FELIPE HERNANDEZ.
OUR NEXT HONOREE IS RICKY RAMSEYER.
[03:15:04]
COME ON UP.RICKY RAMSEYER IS A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER WHO GENEROUSLY DEVOTES HIS TIME TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR ANIMALS.
SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, RICKY VISITS THE SHELTER TO SOCIALIZE BOTH CATS AND DOGS, HELPING THEM BUILD CONFIDENCE AND BECOME MORE ADOPTABLE.
RICKY ALSO PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS BY TRANSPORTING AND HANDLING DOGS AT PUBLIC EVENTS, WHERE HE INTRODUCES THEM TO THE POTENTIAL ADOPTERS AND ADVOCATES FOR THEIR ADOPTION INTO LOVING HOMES.
HIS COMMITMENT EXTENDS BEYOND ANIMAL CARE.
RICKY IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN SHELTER ACTIVITIES, ALWAYS EAGER TO LEND A HAND, AND SUPPORT FELLOW VOLUNTEERS AND COLLABORATE WITH STAFF.
THANK YOU RICKY, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE VULNERABLE ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR NEXT HONOREE IS DAMIAN RODRIGUEZ.
[SILENCE] - DAMIAN RODRIGUEZ IS A DEDICATED, HARDWORKING MEMBER OF THE TEAM WHO VOLUNTEERS FOR THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT WITH THE AZTECAS YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY.
DAMIAN NOT ONLY EXCELS AS ONE OF THE GOALKEEPERS BUT ALSO SERVES AS AN OUTSTANDING MENTOR FOR THE YOUNGER AZTECA MEMBERS.
HIS LEADERSHIP, BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD, HAS EARNED HIM THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF OUR PLAYERS.
HE'S A SOURCE OF GUIDANCE AND INSPIRATION TO MANY.
AS A ROLE MODEL AND MENTOR WITHIN THE AZTECA COMMUNITY, DAMIAN EARNED THE NICKNAME YAMPITOS, WHICH REFLECTS HIS REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE IN, IN GOAL.
THE NICKNAME WAS INSPIRED BY THE LEGENDARY MEXICAN GOALKEEPER, JORGE CAMPOS.
A FITTING TRIBUTE TO DAMIEN'S TALENT AND SKILL IN THIS POSITION.
DAMIEN, THANK YOU FROM THE HEART, FROM, FOR YOUR HEART TALENT AND MENTORSHIP THAT BRINGS YOU TO THE TEAM, YOU IMPA- YOUR IMPACT TRULY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
- OUR NEXT HONOREE IS OUR KIM AND PHIL MORELLO.
AND SUPERVISOR DE SERPA IS GONNA COME DOWN AND SAY A FEW REMARKS.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] KIM AND PHIL MORELLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
[PAUSE] KIM AND PHIL VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AT THE BEN LOMOND COUNTY PARK.
THEY ARE OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS THAT CARE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND DO, DON'T HESITATE TO DO THE HARD WORK TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AS MEMBERS OF THE BEN LOMOND VILLAGE ALLIANCE, THEY HAVE ORGANIZED SEVERAL LARGE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER DAYS IN THE PARK TO CLEAN, PAINT, WEED, AND PLANT.
KIM ALSO APPLIED FOR A GRANT AND WAS AWARDED 90 CLIMATE-SMART NATIVE POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY WILDFLOWERS, GRASSES.
IT SAYS SEDGES, BUT I THINK IT MEANS HEDGES, RIGHT? HEDGES AND SHRUBS.
SHE AND PHIL PLAYED KEY ROLES IN THIS PROJECT FROM START TO FINISH.
THEY PICKED UP THE PLANTS, CARED FOR THEM UNTIL THEY COULD BE PLANTED.
AT ONE OF THE ORGANIZED VOLUNTEER DAYS, KIM ALSO CREATED THE PLANTING DIAGRAM, AND SHE AND PHIL WORKED TO PREP THE GROUND FOR THE PLANTING.
ONCE THE PLANTS WERE IN THE GROUND, PHIL WORKED ON A DRIP IRRIGATION TO EACH OF THE PLANTS AND CONTINUED TO CHECK IN ON THE SYSTEM REGULARLY TO ENSURE THE PLANTS WERE WATERED AND THRIVING.
THANK YOU, PHIL AND KIM, FOR BRINGING YOUR PASSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TO THE BEN LOMOND COUNTY PARK.
- NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE FRIENDS OF QUAIL HOLLOW RANCH COUNTY PARK, AND JIM... BOARD MEMBERS, JIM WILLIAMS AND JEFF USTICK ARE...
[INAUDIBLE] - I FEEL LIKE I'M STANDING IN FOR SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE, WAIT, WE'RE ALL WAITING.
- SUPERVISOR DE SERPA YOU ARE STANDING IN.
[03:20:01]
I DIDN'T WANT MY WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS TO HAVE TO STAND THERE AWKWARDLY LOOKING AT A SCREEN [LAUGHS] SO I'M LETTING YOU DO IT, BUT THANK YOU FOR DOING IT ON MY BEHALF.AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS FROM D5.
[PAUSE] THE FRIENDS OF QUAIL HOLLOW RANCH COUNTY PARK IS A PASSIONATE...
PASSIONATE ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THE PARK'S UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM AS A THRIVING HABITAT FOR NATIVE PLANTS AND WILDLIFE.
THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS, THEY FUND AND IMPLEMENT PROJECTS THAT HELP VISITORS OF ALL AGES CONNECT WITH, APPRECIATE, AND BE INSPIRED BY THE PARK'S NATURAL BEAUTY AND BIODIVERSITY.
THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
THEY'VE PURCHASED AND PLANTED HUNDREDS OF TREES AND PLANTS, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE FRONT GARDEN, AS WELL AS APPLE TREES, WISTERIA, AND REDWOODS.
MANY BOARD MEMBERS ALSO LEAD VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES SUCH AS TRAIL CREW, HABITAT RESTORATION, ASTRONOMY, AND THE NEST BOX PROJECT.
YOU ENCOURAGE HANDS-ON INVOLVEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND THANK YOU TO THE FRIENDS OF THE QUAIL HOLLOW PARK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
- I JUST WANT TO, UH, PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE, UM, COOPERATION AND THE, THE, THE, THE WAY THAT THE COUNTY PARKS MANAGEMENT TEAM, JESSE WILLIAMS AND OTHERS TREAT US AS PARTNERS.
AND I'M SURE THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS FEEL THE SAME WAY.
IF IT MAKES THAT'S THE BIG THANK YOU EVERY WEEK WHEN WE MEET WITH THEM.
- IN ADD.... IN ADDITION, AFTER 27 YEARS, THERE IS GOING TO BE A NEW TRAIL ATTACHED TO THE PARK, THE PACE PROPERTY.
WE INVITE YOU TO VOLUNTEER, COME ON OUT, AND THEN EVENTUALLY COME ON OUT AND WALK IT AND ENJOY IT.
IF YOU'VE NOT VISITED US BEFORE, WE'RE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.
- OUR NEXT HONOREE IS ALEXANDRA MCGOWAN, AND ACTUALLY SUPERVISOR DE SERPA, I THINK...
ALEXANDRA...? OH YEAH, [INAUDIBLE].
ALEXANDRA MCGOWAN IS AN INTERN WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IN THE RECORD CLEARANCE PROGRAM, AND HAS HELPED CHANGE THE LIVES OF OVER 20 CLIENTS USING HER STRONG WRITING SKILLS TO PREPARE MOTIONS FOR THE COURT.
IN THESE MOTIONS, ALEXANDRA HAS GIVEN VOICE TO THE CLIENTS AND SHOWN THEIR POSITIVE PATH MOVING FORWARD FROM WHERE THEY STARTED TO WHERE THEY ARE NOW.
ALEXANDRA HAS CONTRIBUTED HUNDREDS OF HOURS TO THE RECORDS CLEARANCE PROGRAM.
SHE WRITES WITH UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES THESE CLIENTS HAVE FACED, AND WITH JOY FOR HOW THEY HAVE MOVED BEYOND THEIR PAST.
THANK YOU, ALEXANDRA, FOR GIVING A VOICE TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT REALLY DESERVE IT.
SORRY, I HAVE A BIT OF A SPEECH PREPARED, SO PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH ME.
FIRSTLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I CANNOT EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR RECEIVING THIS AWARD.
TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND ABOUT MYSELF, I AM CURRENTLY A SENIOR AT UC SANTA CRUZ, STUDYING COGNITIVE SCIENCE, AND I'M AN INTERN AT THE PDO.
I FIRST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CLEAN SLATE PROJECT AFTER APPLYING FOR THE FIELD STUDY PROGRAM ON MY CAMPUS, WHICH ALLOWS STUDENTS FROM THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT TO TAKE PART IN HANDS-ON REFLECTIVE EXPERIENCE FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREERS WHILE CONNECTING WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED IN THEIR INTERNSHIP TO A SUBJECT OR THEORY REVIEWED IN CLASS.
AFTER MY ACCEPTANCE IN THE PROGRAM, I APPLIED TO THE PDO AS IT ALIGNED WITH MY INTERESTS IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AND PSYCHOLOGY OF LAW.
I HAD NOT UNDERSTOOD AT THAT POINT THE TYPE OF POSITIVE, BENEVOLENT AND ALTRUISTIC WORK BEING DONE AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES AND REENTRY DIVISION.
IN PREPARATION FOR MY INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE, MY SUPERVISOR, I BROWSED THROUGH THE PDO'S WEBSITE AND MARVELED AT THE INTELLIGENCE, PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION, AND COMMUNITY THAT OPERATES AND UNITES THIS ORGANIZATION.
WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO CONVEY THE AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL I'VE ACQUIRED THROUGH THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO DRAFT MOTIONS IN SEVERAL TYPES OF FORMS, READ AND EXTRACT INFORMATION FROM RAP SHEETS, REVIEW HOW THE COURT SYSTEM WORKS, BUT MOST OF ALL, I HAVE DISCOVERED HOW TO HIGHLIGHT THE BENEFICIAL AND PRODUCTIVE CHANGES OUR CLIENTS HAVE MADE IN ORDER TO REENTER OUR SOCIETY.
AND I NOW UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS
[03:25:01]
TO GIVE SOMEBODY A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.I ALWAYS THOUGHT MYSELF TO BE A COMPASSIONATE PERSON WHO NEVER JUDGED OTHERS AND ONLY WISHED FOR THEIR SUCCESS.
HOWEVER, ONLY UPON BEING IN A POSITION WHERE I'VE SEEN HOW SOBRIETY, THERAPY, REFLECTION ON ONE'S MISTAKES, EDUCATION, POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT AND STABILITY IN LIFE HAVE POSITIVELY IMPACTED PEOPLE IN WAYS WE CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE.
I OPENED MY EYES TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT I WAS NOT AS THOUGHTFUL OR EMPATHETIC THAN I HAD PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.
I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL TO SEE BOTH THE INJUSTICES AND ADVANTAGES AND FAIRNESS OF THE LAW AND HOW IT CAN FLIP SOMEONE FROM BEING A VILLAIN TO ACTUALLY BEING A VICTIM OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING AND VALUABLE EXPERIENCE OUT OF ALL THE THINGS I'VE DONE IN MY LIFE, AND I'M SO THANKFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO DO IT WITH MICHELLE.
MY MOST TRUSTED AND BRILLIANT SUPERVISOR AND THE SKILLED PARALEGALS, JOANNA, ANTON AND VERNA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHELLE FOR NOMINATING ME FOR THIS AWARD AND FOR OPENING MY EYES TO A WHOLE NEW WORLD THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF BEFORE.
YOU HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE LEADER FOR YOUR STAFF, AND YOU TAKE THE TIME TO TEACH THEM HOW TO BE DETAIL ORIENTED AND PRODUCTIVE WHILE SHOWING THEM THAT EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES AND SHOULD DESERVE A NEW CHANCE IN LIFE.
YOU HAVE PROVIDED ME WITH A SET OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO CONQUER WHATEVER LIES AHEAD OF ME AND TO BE MORE OPEN-MINDED.
THANK YOU TO MICHELLE, THE VIP DEPARTMENT AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN THIS PROGRAM FOR HOSTING THIS WONDERFUL CELEBRATION.
THANK YOU TO MY PARENTS FOR GRANTING ME AN EDUCATION THAT HAS GIVEN ME A HOLISTIC VIEW OF THE WORLD, FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING WHAT I BELIEVE IN, AND FOR MOTIVATING ME TO DO THE BEST THAT I CAN DO EVERY DAY.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO ALL THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS FOR ALL THE TIME AND COMMITMENT YOU PUT INTO HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH YOUR WORK HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR SOCIETY AND WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCES BRING TO THE TABLE.
- WE'RE NOW GONNA BE HONORING SOME OF THE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND IN TURN, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE SHERIFF CLARK TO COME ON UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO BE UP HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AND JUST REALLY HONOR AND CELEBRATE OUR VOLUNTEERS.
VOLUNTEERS, AS YOU KNOW, ARE A FORCE MULTIPLIER ACROSS EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY, AND, AND I'M PRETTY BIASED WITH THOSE THAT WE HAVE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
KATHERINE, MARK, AND BONNIE, WHO YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT IN JUST A MINUTE, ARE FRANKLY JUST A DROP OF THE BUCKET WITH REGARDS TO JUST THE, THE, THE GREAT WORK THAT FOLKS FROM OUR COMMUNITY DO TO IMPACT LIVES OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY EVERY DAY.
I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT A VOLUNTEER THAT WE HAVE THAT DOES GENETIC GENEALOGY, THAT HELPS PROVIDE CLOSURE TO FAMILIES THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVED ONE WHO HAD PASSED AWAY OR WAS MISSING.
I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT OUR TRUNK-OR-TREAT EVENTS AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT SIT AT OUR SERVICE CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT, UH, PROVIDE THAT, THAT FACE TO THE PUBLIC IN THE AREAS THAT FOLKS LIVE AND, AND, AND JUST ALL THE THINGS.
AND FROM OUR CITIZEN, TO PATROL, TO EVERYTHING.
IT'S, IT'S AN AMAZING BODY OF WORK.
I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE JUST A FEW PEOPLE FROM MY STAFF.
DAISY BARRON, WHO'S OUR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR.
SHE'S THE ONE WHO PUTS ALL THIS TOGETHER, MANAGES OUR 60 PLUS VOLUNTEERS.
IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE WHAT SHE DOES.
AND THEN, UH, NICK BALDRIGE, OUR COMMUNITY POLICING LIEUTENANT WHO HANDLES ALL THINGS COMMUNITY POLICING, AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR US AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WITH THE COUNTY.
AND THEN ROGER GALVIN, OUR SERGEANT UP AT THE, UP IN THE SAN LORENZO VALLEY FOR WHICH A LOT OF THESE VOLUNTEERS WORK.
SO JUST THANK YOU TO MY STAFF AND OBVIOUSLY THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WE HAVE.
AND GREAT TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE BONNIE, MARK AND CATHERINE TODAY.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS.
OUR FIRST VOLUNTEER HONOREE FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS CATHERINE DUFORT WITH AMERICORPS SENIORS AND RSVP VOLUNTEER.
- SO CATHERINE DUFORT HAS BEEN A VOLUNTEER WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR NEARLY 2 YEARS, PROVIDING HELP AT THE FELTON SERVICE CENTER AND WITH THE VOLUNTEER CENTER RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.
WITH HER TRAINING, CATHERINE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, FINGERPRINTING CHILDREN FOR THE ID PROGRAM.
SHE HAS ALSO PROVIDED VOLUNTEER SUPPORT AT OTHER EVENTS SUCH, SUCH AS TRUNK-OR-TREAT, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, AND AT THE COUNTY FAIR.
YOUR DESIRE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY IS EVIDENT.
[03:30:05]
- NEXT HONOREE IS MARK STOVALL.- ALL RIGHT, MARK STOVALL IS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT THE FELTON SERVICE CENTER, WHERE HE IS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATING EXCELLENCE IN HIS WORK THAT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND EXPECTATIONS.
HE RECENTLY MADE SURE THE VOLUNTEER FLEET WAS UP AND RUNNING BY MAKING SURE ALL THE VEHICLES HAD THE PROPER MAINTENANCE.
MARK NOT ONLY COMPLETES HIS ASSIGNED TASK WITH EXCEPTIONAL ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND EFFICIENCY, BUT ALSO TAKES INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT OTHER VOLUNTEERS THROUGH PROCESS AND ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF EVERY PROJECT HE'S INVOLVED IN.
THANK YOU MARK, FOR ALWAYS STEPPING UP TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY THRIVE.
[INAUDIBLE] - [INAUDIBLE] - THANK YOU.
- THE FINAL... OUR FINAL HONOREE TODAY IS WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
[INAUDIBLE] - THANK YOU SO MUCH.
- BONNIE RODEMEYER, VOLUNTEERS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT THE LIVE OAK SERVICE CENTER.
AND HER DEPENDABLE NATURE AND SELFLESS SUPPORT MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN OUR TEAM SUCCESS AND MORALE.
BONNIE IS SOMEONE THE TEAM CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON, WHETHER IT'S HELPING WITH PROMOTIONAL ITEMS SLIPS, ORGANIZING INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL NEW VOLUNTEERS, OR OFFERING SUPPORT.
BONNIE SHOWS UP WITH A CALM, HELPFUL ATTITUDE EVERY TIME, AND WITH AN UNWAVERING RELIABILITY AND CONSTANT WILLINGNESS TO HELP OTHERS.
BONNIE EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF TEAMWORK AND TRULY MAKES THE LIVE OAK SERVICE CENTER BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU, BONNIE, FOR SHARING YOUR TIME AND POSITIVITY WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
- BEFORE WE ADJOURN, UM, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD AGAIN FOR, FOR HONORING THE VOLUNTEERS HERE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO DO ONE QUICK GROUP PHOTO IF EVERYONE WANTS TO COME DOWN AGAIN REAL QUICK AND GET ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND, UM, SUPERVISORS, UH, VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO WELCOME TO COME DOWN.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE.
[SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] - THERE YOU GO.
- [INAUDIBLE] - [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] - WE DON'T FIT IN.
- [INAUDIBLE] - [INAUDIBLE] - [INAUDIBLE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] [SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] [SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] - I'D LIKE TO SEE IF ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, TALK ABOUT THE...
ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK, SPEAK TO THIS ITEM.
[SILENCE] SEEING NONE, ANYONE ON THE BOARD? COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON.
- WE HAVE... CHAIR, WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER ONLINE.
[SILENCE] CALL IN USER 3, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
[03:35:05]
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] CHAIR, IT APPEARS THE SPEAKER EITHER CANNOT CONNECT OR DOESN'T WISH TO SPEAK.WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS.
- THE NEXT, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS NUMBER 7:
[7. Hold Public hearing to consider the proposed rezoning of 47 parcels and associated amendments to the General Plan Land Use designations for 42 of the 47 parcels in accordance with the 2023 Housing Element, and take related actions]
HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED REZONING OF 47 PARCELS AND ASSOCIATED AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL PLAN.LAND USE DESIGNATIONS FOR 42 OF THE 47 PARCELS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 2023 HOUSING ELEMENT AND TAKE ALL RELATED ACTIONS.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SUZANNE ISÉ, PRINCIPAL PLANNER AND MARK CONNOLLY, PRINCIPAL PLANNER FOR THE PRESENTATION.
MARK CONNOLLY, PRINCIPAL PLANNER IN THE POLICY SECTION.
WITH ME, AS YOU SAID TO MY RIGHT THIS AFTERNOON, IS SUZANNE ISÉ, PRINCIPAL PLANNER IN THE HOUSING SECTION.
GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
WHAT WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY IS ASKING FOR THE BOARD TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON BATCH B OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT REZONE PROGRAM AND CONSIDER 47 REZONE PARCELS AND ADOPTING GENERAL PLAN AND LAND USE AMENDMENTS FOR 42 OF THOSE 47 PARCELS AS REQUIRED BY THE 2023 HOUSING ELEMENT.
AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, IN 2023, UH, THE COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT WAS ADOPTED BY THIS BOARD AND WAS CERTIFIED BY THE STATE OF, UH, OF CALIFORNIA HCD IN APRIL OF 2024.
THE BOARD PASSED BATCH A OF THE REZONES IN DECEMBER, 2024, REZONING 27 PARCELS FOR HIGHER DENSITIES TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE HOUSING ELEMENT.
TODAY'S ACTION WOULD APPROVE THE REZONING OF THE REMAINING PARCELS NEEDED FOR THAT REZONING IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT.
AND WHILE THE, THE COUNTY IS ABLE TO USE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TOOLS TO FOSTER HOUSING IN THIS COUNTY, THIS REZONING IS REALLY THE MOST POWERFUL ONE AND THE BIGGEST TOOL WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL, AND, AND CERTAINLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE.
[PAUSE] SO THE AGENDA WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY IS WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE BACKGROUND VERY BRIEFLY, UH, GOING THROUGH THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND WHAT WE CALL A RHNA, THE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THE DRIVING FACTORS OF THE REZONE PROGRAM HERE IN THE POLICIES AND THE HOUSING ELEMENT.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THE MAPS OF THE REZONED PARCELS, AND JUST GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS AND WE'LL WRAP IT ALL UP WITH OUR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR YOU.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE COUNTY'S RHNA THAT, UH, REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION FOR THE 8-YEAR PLANNING PERIOD THE HOUSING ELEMENT HAS, WHICH IS 2023 THROUGH 2031.
THE CERTIFIED 2023 HOUSING ELEMENT IDENTIFIES THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED ON THESE EXISTING SITES IN THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY AREA UNDER CURRENT ZONING IS APPROXIMATELY 4,167 UNITS, WHICH IS A LITTLE SHY OF THAT RHNA NUMBER YOU CAN SEE HERE.
THE ALLOCATION OF 4,634 GRANTED TO US BY THE STATE INSURED BY 467 UNITS AND 931 UNITS SHY OF OUR BUFFER, WHICH IS A 10% ON TOP OF THE RHNA FOR A TOTAL OF 5,098 UNITS.
THE PURPOSE OF THAT 10% BUFFER IS TO ASSURE THAT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY SHOULD SOME OF THESE PARCELS NOT DEVELOP.
TO ADDRESS THE SHORTFALL OF THE 931 UNITS, THE COUNTY HAS IDENTIFIED 75 PARCELS THAT WOULD REQUIRE REZONING IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE UNIT CAPACITY IN THIS INVENTORY BY A TOTAL OF AT LEAST THAT 931 UNITS.
NOW, KEEP IN MIND WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE IS, AND THIS IS KIND OF A RULE OF THUMB THROUGHOUT, IS ROUGHLY HALF OF THESE UNITS ARE IN THE LOWER INCOME CATEGORIES.
SO YOUR LOW AND YOUR VERY LOW.
[PAUSE] THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE NUMBER OF AND THE TYPE THAT, OF UNITS THAT RESULT FROM THE REZONING EFFORT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.
SO ALTHOUGH THE COUNTY NEEDS THOSE 931 UNITS TO MEET OUR SHORTFALL AS EXPRESSED IN THAT PREVIOUS SLIDE, IF THE REZONED PARCELS WERE TO BUILD OUT TO THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL, THERE WOULD BE, UH, 2,053 ADDITIONAL UNITS.
THE EXTRA UNITS ARE NECESSARY TO MEET THAT POTENTIAL UNIT OF LOWER INCOME CATEGORIES, AS I MENTIONED.
AS SHOWN IN THE UPPER RIGHT CELL, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A SLIGHT CAPACITY DEFICIT IN THE VERY LOW CATEGORY.
[SILENCE] SOQUEL DRIVE THAT WAS PURCHASED BY CENTRAL FIRE, FOR THAT FIRE STATION AND SOME CORRECTIONS THAT WE MADE JUST IN TALKING WITH HCD AND SOME OTHER UNIT CORRECTIONS THAT WE MADE.
SO YOU SEE ALREADY, AND THIS KINDA SPEAKS TO SOME OF THE COMMENT THAT WE'VE HEARD AND WE'VE RECEIVED IN YOUR PACKET,
[03:40:02]
THAT IT'S NOT JUST WHAT HAPPENS IF WE PULL A SITE OFF.IT IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE UNIT YIELDS IN THOSE INCOME CATEGORIES THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO US.
SO YOU SEE A BIG BUFFER, 10%, BUT YOU CAN ALREADY SEE WE'RE FIGHTING A DEFICIT IN THE LOW INCOME CATEGORIES, THAT'S SO CRUCIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.
[PAUSE] SO STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALSO THE PIPELINE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, UH, IN DEVELOPMENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE SEVERAL PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, UH, THAT ARE PROVIDING MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS AS WELL, THAN IN, YOU KNOW, THE INVENTORY ANTICIPATED.
AND WE'LL HOPEFULLY ENSURE THIS DEFICIT CAN BE OVERCOME WITHOUT REZONING ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES.
SO THESE PROGRAMS THAT REALLY ARE THE CAUSAL DRIVER OF WHY WE'RE HERE, UH, IT'S THREE PROGRAMS AND THESE COME RIGHT OUT OF OUR HOUSING ELEMENT THAT THE BOARD APPROVED AND ADOPTED.
PROGRAM H-1B APPLIES TO PARCELS THAT HAVE TO BE REZONED TO ACCOMMODATE THE NUMBER OF UNITS NEEDED TO MEET THE RHNA.
THESE ARE THE PARCELS THAT ARE OF THE PROJECTED YIELD OF, OF...
OR AT LEAST 5 LOW AND VERY LOW INCOME UNITS.
H-1C IS THE MINISTERIAL PROCESSING OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS ON CERTAIN SITES IN THE REZONING LISTS, IN THE INVENTORY.
PROJECTS ON THESE SITES MUST HAVE AT LEAST A 20% TOTAL UNIT AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO GET MINISTERIAL PROCESSING.
H-1C ALSO APPLIES TO PROPERTIES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE INVENTORY AS SITES FOR LOWER INCOME HOUSING IN ONE OR MORE PREVIOUS CYCLES.
SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THOSE IN THERE.
OF THESE 75 PARCELS SUBJECT TO REZONING, THERE'S A SUBSET OF 28 OF THESE THAT ARE SUBJECT TO PROGRAM, UH, H-1C.
SO THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE THIS MINISTERIAL PROCESSING OPTION FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT CAN PROPOSE OR CAN BE PROPOSED ON THESE PARCELS AFTER THE REZONING OCCURS, IF THEY INCLUDE THAT MINIMUM 20%.
THE DASH MIN WAS BROUGHT TO THE BOARD TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO AND PASSED BY THIS BOARD.
LAST ONE IS PROGRAM H-1J THAT IMPLEMENTED SENATE BILL 10 THAT PROVIDES FOR REZONING A PARCEL TO ALLOW UP TO 10 UNITS ON QUALIFYING INFILL SITES LOCATED IN THE LOW DENSITY NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THIS HELPS THE COUNTY PROVIDE THAT MISSING MIDDLE THAT IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S A NICE TOOL TO BUILD IN LIKE SORT OF DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES, QUADS UH, INTO THESE SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WHAT IS THE GENERAL PLAN AND THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT BATCHES LOOK LIKE HERE? SO IN THIS TABLE, WE SUMMARIZE THE, WHAT'S PRESENTED IN THESE 47 PARCELS.
IT'S 42 PARCELS THAT REQUIRE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS.
14 OF THESE 47 ARE SUBJECT TO THAT -MIN, THE MINISTERIAL COMBINING DISTRICT.
THIRTY-ONE PARCELS ARE SUBJECT TO THE SB 10, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THOSE DEVELOPMENTS OF 10 UNITS ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.
AND THEN LAST 7 OF THE REZONED PARCELS ARE IN THE COASTAL ZONE.
AND WE'LL TRANSMIT THOSE TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION FOLLOWING THIS ACTION.
[PAUSE] SO LET'S GET INTO THE SITES A LITTLE BIT HERE.
I'VE GOT A SERIES OF MAPS I'M GONNA GO THROUGH JUST BRIEFLY TOUCHING ON THESE SITES.
JUST TO KIND OF HEAD OFF SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT WE'VE GOT AND THINGS THAT YOU'VE HEARD AND SEEN IN YOUR PACKET TO CLARIFY FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL, THROUGH THIS EFFORT, THE COUNTY IS NOT PROPOSING TO BUY LAND.
WE'RE NOT DEVELOPING ANYTHING AS A COUNTY.
THERE'S NO HIP POCKET DEVELOPER BEHIND THIS THAT WE HAVE READY TO GO.
THESE ARE JUST REZONINGS TO FACILITATE WHAT THE STATE IS REQUIRING OF US, OKAY? SO JUST EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT.
SO THIS FIRST ONE HERE, UM THE...
WE CALL THIS THE NORTH LIVE OAK AREA, AND THE LIVE OAK PLANNING AREA.
IT INCLUDES THE REZONING OF COUNTY-OWNED PARCEL ON PRATHER LANE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY USED AS A RESIDENTIAL SITE.
IT HAS TWO UH, SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS ON IT.
SO THE PROPOSED REZONING ON THIS SITE WITH THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, WILL KIND OF UH, STREAMLINE BUFFER WOULD REMAIN PROTECTED IN THE PR ZONING.
SO HERE'S SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT THAT PRATHER LANE SITE.
IT WAS PART OF A BOARD ADOPTED PLAN IN 2021 THAT RECOMMENDED SURPLUS OF THAT SITE AND IT TO BE DEVELOPED FOR HOUSING.
SO THIS EFFORT HERE IS REALLY IN KEEPING WITH THAT THAT, THAT PLAN AND BOARD ACTION.
[PAUSE] SO MAP TWO IS JUST 4 PARCELS.
WE CALL THIS THE LIVE OAK AREA AND THE LIVE OAK PLANNING AREA.
AND THEY'RE KIND OF SCATTERED ALONG HERE BETWEEN SOQUEL AND DOWN TO CAPITOLA ROAD.
JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF POTENTIAL UNITS.
[03:45:01]
SOME OF THE SB-10 UNITS ARE IN THIS BATCH.[PAUSE] MAP 3, THESE ARE YOUR COASTAL ZONE PARCELS BEGINNING HERE.
THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE TWIN LAKES NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE LIVE OAK PLANNING AREA.
AND YOU CAN SEE THIS IS THE COUNTY-OWNED SITE AT 7TH AND BROMMER.
YOU SEE THE POTENTIAL UNITS THAT WE HAVE THERE IN THE ZONING THAT WE'RE PROPOSING ON THE 7TH AVENUE SITE.
[PAUSE] MAP 4 HAS 10 PARCELS IN IT.
WE CALL THIS THE LIVE OAK PLANNING AREA IN THE LIVE OAK NEIGHBORHOOD.
THESE ARE ALL SB-10 SITES THAT WE HAVE FORMERLY, FORMERLY MENTIONED HERE.
THEY FACILITATE THAT MIDDLE, MISSING MIDDLE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME DUPLEXES AND QUADS AND OTHER SMALLER DEVELOPMENT IN THERE.
BUT THE LARGER MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS WOULDN'T HAPPEN HERE.
[PAUSE] THIS NEXT MAP, 5, THIS IS 9 PARCELS IN TOTAL IN THIS AREA.
AND THIS IS IN THE SOQUEL NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE SOQUEL PLANNING AREA.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF LARGE SITES HERE OF POTENTIAL YIELD.
AND YOU'LL HEAR THAT WORD "POTENTIAL YIELD" QUITE A BIT ON SOQUEL AVENUE AND MAIN STREET.
BUT MOST OF THESE, THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND SOQUEL AND CAPITOLA AND PORTER.
SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AREA THAT...
IT'S ADJACENT TO THE CITY OF CAPITOLA.
WE'RE- WE'RE TRYING TO GET A LOT OF NOT ONLY SB-10 MISSING MIDDLE SITES, BUT IT'S A KEY AREA TOO IF I THINK SOME OF OUR AFFORDABLE AND LOWER INCOME AREAS.
[PAUSE] MAP 6 JUST HAS 4 PARCELS.
THIS IS WHAT WE CALL OUR PLEASURE POINT, CAPITOLA AREA IN THE PLANNING AREA OF LIVE OAK.
SO THIS IS JUST THOMPSON AND BULB AVENUE, I THINK LARGELY SB-10 UNITS AS WELL.
YOU SEE THE KIND OF THE SMALLER SKINNIER SITES.
ALL OF THESE ARE GOING TO OUR RM CLASSIFICATION.
[PAUSE] NEXT ONE MAP 7, ANOTHER BATCH IN THE COASTAL ZONE HERE.
THIS IS OUR 3-PARCEL AREA, UH, PLEASURE POINT WITHIN THE PLANNING AREA OF LIVE OAK, THAT LARGER ONE THERE, THAT'S A STRIP MALL, SHOPPING MALL.
AND THEY'RE ALL ON PORTOLA DRIVE AND WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD POTENTIAL YIELD THAT WE ESTIMATE OUT OF THIS ONE, BOTH IN C2 AND THE RF PROPOSED ZONING.
[PAUSE] NEXT MAP 8, THIS HAS 2 PARCELS IN IT.
THIS IS IN THE SOQUEL AREA AND IN SOQUEL PLANNING AREA AS WELL.
AND UM, JUST 9 UNITS EACH ON UH, MAPPLETHORPE LANE HERE, GOING TO RM 1.5.
[PAUSE] MAP 9 CONTAINS 2 PARCELS IN 1 SITE.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY 14 ACRES AND APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE UNITS HERE ARE IN THE LOWER INCOME CATEGORY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST SITES OF POTENTIAL YIELD IN OUR HOUSING ELEMENT AND VERY CRUCIAL IN OUR REZONING EFFORT HERE, IN THE APTOS AREA, APTOS PLANNING AREA.
JUST A CLARIFICATION ADDITION HERE, JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD, WHEN THE BOARD ADOPTED THE, THE HOUSING ELEMENT, THERE WAS A RESOLUTION THAT WAS INCLUDED WITH OUR HOUSING ELEMENT THAT INCLUDED UH, MOST NOTABLY THAT 4 ACRES OF THIS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, UM...
OR BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE PARK LAND WHEN IT'S DEVELOPED.
SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF A REMINDER.
THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ALSO TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMIT, POTENTIAL SENIOR HOUSING ON THIS SITE AS WELL.
SO THIS ONE'S ADJACENT TO MIRA VISTA AND THE FREEWAY.
SO IT'S A KEY SITE IN OUR HOUSING ELEMENT.
THIS IS THE SOUTH COUNTY, GREEN VALLEY ROAD, IN ROSE LANE PARCELS.
AND AT THE FEBRUARY 26TH, 2025 PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION, THE COMMISSION CONSIDERED STAFF'S PRESENTATION ON THESE 5 PRIMROSE LANE PROPERTIES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY MOVED FROM BATCH A INTO BATCH B.
AND STAFF PROVIDED OPTIONS TO THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER THESE PARCELS AND INCLUDED MIXED USE IN DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
AND THE COMMISSION CONCLUDED THAT THE COMMERCIAL USES ON THESE PROPERTIES COULD BE ACCOMMODATED BY A DENSITY BONUS CONCESSION AND DIRECTED STAFF MAINTAIN THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED ZONING AND GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATIONS FOR THESE PARCELS.
SO AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO THEM IN BATCH A.
FURTHERMORE, REFLECTING ON THE AGRICULTURAL AND THE LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE COMMISSION CONSIDERED THAT 2-STORY DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING HEIGHT REALLY WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THIS AREA.
EVERYTHING TO THE RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN THERE IS JUST A ONE SIX QUARTER ACRE ZONING OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
TO THE SOUTH HERE IS SORT OF THE...
[03:50:03]
IT'S A MOBILE HOME PARK.AND THEN YOU SORT OF HAVE SOME SMALL AGRICULTURE WHICH SHOULD BE TO THE LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN HERE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE WHOLE AREA HERE IN A, IN A NUTSHELL, ABOUT 45% OF THESE WOULD BE REJECTED TO BE YIELDED FOR AFFORDABLE UH, INCOME OR LOWER INCOME CATEGORY.
NO GUARANTEE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS THE WAY THAT THE ESTIMATES GO AND WHAT WE HOPE IN KIND OF, UH...
WE'RE GONNA PLAN FOR THROUGH THIS REZONING.
[PAUSE] MAP 11, THIS IS THE APTOS SEASCAPE GOLF COURSE PARKING LOT AREA.
THESE ARE PORTIONS OF EXISTING PARCELS ON THE SEASCAPE GOLF COURSE.
AND IT WOULD BE A SPLIT ZONING SO THAT THE GOLF COURSE OPERATIONS WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED.
WHAT'S EVEN MORE PROBABLY CRUCIAL HERE IS THAT IT WOULD NOT PRECLUDE THE CLUBHOUSE FROM CONTINUING TO EXIST IN- IN ANY FASHION, WHETHER THEY DECIDED TO INCORPORATE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OR IF THEY WANTED TO KEEP IT THERE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS SPLIT ZONING.
SO WORST CASE SCENARIO WOULD BE A- A NON-CONFORMING, USE IT BE FINE TO BE THERE.
SO NOTHING PRECLUDES THAT GOLF COURSE OPERATION.
[PAUSE] SO PUBLIC NOTICING WAS HUGE.
IT WAS A BIG PIECE HERE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THIS BOARD AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO US AS STAFF AND ALL SITES WE POSTED WITH A PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE.
WE PUT LETTERS OUT TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE OCCUPANTS.
WE PUT A LEGAL AD IN THE NEWSPAPER.
WE POSTED IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND BOTH WEBSITES.
ALSO POSTED THESE AT THE COUNTY LIBRARIES AT VARIOUS....
ALL THE COUNTY LIBRARIES OUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE ALSO DID OUR NOTICES TO THE PUBLIC AGENCIES THAT'S MORE SPECIFIC TO THE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS.
THAT INCLUDES THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS, FIRE, WATER, LAFCO, RTC, THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, COASTAL COMMISSION, LOCAL CITIES, SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, CAPITOLA, AND WATSONVILLE.
WE ALSO HAD TO DO TRIBAL CONSULTATION AND NOTICING.
SO IN THIS TOO, JUST KIND OF A BROAD BRUSH, IT INCLUDED OUTREACH TO OUR- OUR SISTER DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY AS WELL.
JUST SORT OF AN OPTION TO ENGAGE IF THEY NEEDED TO THAT WE WERE HERE AND IT- IT REALLY PUT OUT THAT... EXTENDED THE OLIVE BRANCH IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY NEEDED TO DISCUSS.
SO THAT WAS SORT OF AN INTERNAL PART OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICING AS WELL.
[PAUSE] SO JUST QUICKLY TO SKIM THROUGH THIS, WE DID HAVE OTHER PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY LAW.
WE HAD TO GO THROUGH CEQA AND THERE WAS AN ADDENDUM THAT WAS PREPARED TO THE EIR FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE THAT COVERED ALL OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT AS WELL AS THE REZONING.
SO THAT WAS ADEQUATELY COVERED THERE.
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS REQUIRE NOTICE TO TRIBES PURSUANT TO SENATE BILL 18.
SO IN MAY 2ND, 2024, THE COUNTY STAFF SENT A LETTER OUT TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION TO SOLICIT ANY AND ALL COMMENT.
AND EVEN TO THIS DATE, WE'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING BACK.
COASTAL ACT CONSISTENCY, VERY IMPORTANT PIECE FOR THE PARCELS WITHIN THE COASTAL ZONE.
AND PARTICULARLY TO THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATIONS AND THOSE MAPS ARE PART OF THE LCP AND REQUIRE CERTIFICATION BY THE COASTAL COMMISSION.
SO ZONING CHANGES ON THESE PARCELS LOCATED WITHIN THE COASTAL ZONE WILL REQUIRE THAT COASTAL COMMISSION SUBMISSION AND CERTIFICATION AS WELL.
[PAUSE] SO HERE IS A SUMMARY OF OUR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS.
I WON'T READ THEM ALL, BUT SUFFICE TO SAY, THEY ARE IN YOUR PACKET AND I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL READ THEM MANY TIMES HERE.
SO WITH THIS SUMMARY, IT CONCLUDES OUR STAFF PRESENTATION AND WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
- SO I'M GONNA GO TO THE PUBLIC, SEE IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS.
KEEP IN MIND, IF YOU SPOKE ALREADY BEFORE, YOU CAN'T SPEAK AGAIN ON THIS ITEM.
- HELLO, I'M JANE BARR, A COMMUNITY MEMBER LIVING IN CORALITAS.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT WHILE I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN, I HAVE APPOINTED TO THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION, I'M SPEAKING ONLY AS A SOUTH COUNTY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
AS A FORMER AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER, I KNOW THAT THE FIVE PRIMROSE PROPERTIES WILL NOT BE COMPETITIVE FOR HOUS-...
FOR HOUSING TAX CREDITS AS THEY ARE NOT LOCATED WITHIN PROXIMITY OF A GROCERY STORE, PHARMACY, LIBRARY, AND OTHER SERVICES NEEDED TO SCORE HIGH ENOUGH TO, TO RECEIVE FUNDS.
THESE PARCELS WOULD THEN HAVE TO ATTRACT PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS.
[PAUSE] IF THERE WERE ANY INTERESTED, THEY WOULD ONLY PROVIDE THE MINIMUM 15 TO 20% REQUIRED BY THE COUNTY.
I BELIEVE THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS IS VERY LOW AND PRETTY FAR IN THE FUTURE.
I SUGGEST THAT THE COUNTY HAS TWO OPTIONS
[03:55:02]
IN LIEU OF THE INCLUSION OF THE PRIMROSE PROPERTIES.ONE, DELETE THEM AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES IN THE 10% PADDING FOR THE REQUIRED RHNA.
WHILE THIS MAY BE AN OPTION, IT IS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD PRECEDENT.
TWO, REPLACE THE LOSS OF THESE UNITS WITH THE EXTRA UNITS PROVIDED BY THE PROPOSED PROJECTS OF THURBER AND 41ST AND SOQUEL.
WHILE THESE PROPERTIES ARE IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF COUNTY, THEY'RE MORE PROBABLE AND WILL BE DEVELOPED SOONER THAN LATER.
THIS IS AN EASY FIX FOR YOU TO MAKE AND I URGE YOU TO DO SO.
- GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS JOHN SWIFT.
I'M REPRESENTING THE SEASCAPE GOLF COURSE AND THAT'S PROPERTIES IDENTIFIED AS B46 AND B47.
IT'S THE LAST MAP THAT YOU SAW, MAP 11.
SO THE SEASCAPE GOLF CLUB SUPPORTS THIS EFFORT, BUT WE GOTTA CLARIFY THAT, UH...
I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT THIS IS NOT AN...
IT'S AN OVERLAPPING ZONE DISTRICT, RIGHT? WE HAVE BOTH HAVE AN RM, A PARKS AND REC ZONING AND A RESIDENTIAL ZONING, RM 1.5.
SO WE GOTTA BE CLEAR THAT WE DON'T WANT THIS GOLF CLUB OR COURSE OR ANYTHING RELATED TO IT TO BE CONSIDERED NON-CONFORMING.
AND MARK, IN ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU USED THE TERM NON-CONFORMING, THAT DOES AFFECT ABILITY TO LET'S SAY, EXPAND THE RESTAURANT OR EXPAND ANYTHING RELATED TO A RECREATIONAL OR UH, GOLF RELATED USE.
SO WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T WANT THE RM ZONING, BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT CANNOT BE INTERPRETED NOW OR 5 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN YOU GET A NEW PLANNER IN THE STAFF SAYING, "WELL, GEEZ, THIS IS ZONED RM 1.5.
YOU CAN'T EXPAND THE GOLF COURSE." IT'S OVERLAPPING ZONING, IT'S NOT SPLIT ZONING, MEANING THIS PART OF THE PARCEL IS THAT, THIS PART IS THAT, IT'S 2 ZONINGS, WHICH IS UNUSUAL.
AND IT CAUSED, IT- IT UH, WAS INTERESTING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT REALLY MEANT.
SECONDLY, UH, THE LARGER PIECE HAS A MINISTERIAL COMBINING DISTRICT ZONING, THE SMALL PIECE DOES NOT.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW AN APPLICATION WOULD COME IN, YOU WOULD HOPE THAT AN APPLICATION WOULD BE MINISTERIAL, BUT THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED NOW WITH ONE PARCEL BEING MINISTERIAL AND ONE NOT, THAT APPLICATION WOULD HAVE TO REZONE TO APPLY FOR THE MINISTERIAL, WHICH DEFEATS THE ENTIRE...
THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF THE MINISTERIAL ZONE.
I KNOW THAT'S KIND OF CONFUSING, BUT I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE.
SO WE HOPE THAT, WE UNDERSTAND THAT MIGHT, THAT CLEANUP MIGHT NOT HAPPEN TODAY, BUT WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THAT'S NOTED FOR THE RECORD, THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE A NON-CONFORMING USE.
AND SECONDLY, THAT THIS MINIMAL, UH, MINISTERIAL COMBINING WOULD AT SOME POINT BE CLEANED UP AS PART OF YOUR GENERAL PLAN CLEANUP PROCESS, WHICH YOU DO ANNUALLY ANYWAY.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ IN SUPPORT OF THE BATCH B REZONINGS.
IN A STATE FACING THE URGENT NEED TO BUILD 1.8 MILLION NEW HOUSING UNITS JUST TO MEET OUR CURRENT DEMAND, STRATEGIES THAT INCREASE HOUSING DENSITY AND STREAMLINE REGULATIONS FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY ALONG OUR MAJOR CORRIDORS AND WITHIN THE COUNTY'S URBAN SERVICES AREA REPRESENT A CRITICAL STEP FORWARD ADDRESSING OUR ONGOING HOUSING CRISIS.
I REFER YOU TO MAP 10, WHICH IS PART OF BATCH B.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON REZONING THE 5 PARCELS ON PRIMROSE LANE, SITE ID B41, B42, B43, B44 AND B45.
THE PROPOSAL TO REZONE AND DEVELOP 162 UNITS IN THIS RURAL AREA IS COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE.
THE CURRENT ZONING IS URBAN VERY LOW AND THE PROPOSAL IS FOR URBAN HIGH, WHICH IS UNPRECEDENTED FOR REZONING A RESIDENTIAL PARCEL.
THESE PARCELS ARE A PATCHWORK OF FOUR, 2 TO 3 ACRE PARCELS AND ONE UNBUILDABLE DRIVEWAY, WHICH WAS B43, DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THAT GOT IN THERE.
AND THESE ARE ALL ADJACENT, BUT YET THEY'RE SPLIT BY THE PRIMROSE LANE EASEMENT.
THERE ARE NO THREE OR FOUR STORY STRUCTURES ANYWHERE IN THE AREA.
THE PARCELS ARE ON THE VERY NORTH END OF GREEN VALLEY ROAD IN AN 1.1 MILE ISLAND URBAN SERVICE LINE, WHICH MEANS IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO THE MAIN SERVICE LINE, WHICH IS DOWN UH, IN THE WATSONVILLE AREA.
THERE ARE NO RESOURCES IN THIS URBAN SERVICE LINE EXCEPT FOR A SMALL LIQUOR STORE.
IT IS UNCLEAR HOW THE PRIMROSE PARCELS WERE SELECTED FOR REZONING, EXCEPT THAT THEY WERE OFFERED UP BY THE DEVELOPER WHO OWNS THEM AND DOESN'T LIVE ANYWHERE NEARBY.
AFTER MUCH RESEARCH INTO THE GENERAL PLAN, THE HOUSING ELEMENT, THE BUILD ENVIRONMENT ELEMENT, AND THE AFFH, IT'S CLEAR THAT THESE PARCELS ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE
[04:00:01]
WITH THE MANDATED GUIDELINES IN AD 686 FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE AFA, AFFH WHERE PARCELS NEED TO BE NEAR HIGH RESOURCE AREAS.PRIMROSE IS NOT NEAR ANY HIGH RESOURCE AREAS.
IT'S NOT NEAR ANY EMPLOYMENT CENTER.
IT'S NOT NEAR A TRANSPORTATION HUB.
AND PRIMROSE LANE IS NOWHERE NEAR A HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREA, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR THESE LOW INCOME UNITS TO GO IN.
IT IS 2.5 MILES AWAY FROM A GROCERY STORE.
THERE'S NO SIDEWALK ON THAT SIDE OF GREEN VALLEY ROAD AND UM, TRAFFIC IS A HUGE ISSUE AND WILL BE UNMANAGEABLE IF WE HAVE POTENTIALLY OVER 400 MORE PEOPLE IN CARS.
THE PLANNERS HAVE ALREADY ADMITTED THE RHNA QUOTA IS ALREADY REACHED WITHOUT ADDING...
[SILENCE] - HI, MY NAME IS LARISSA KANSLER.
I LIVE AT 849 GREEN VALLEY ROAD.
I'M HERE TO BASICALLY CARRY ON WITH MY NEIGHBORS HERE.
WE'RE NOT AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE ISSUE IS WITH THE PRIMROSE PARCELS.
BEING ABLE TO PUT THAT MANY PEOPLE IN AN ALREADY VERY LOW INCOME STRETCH OF ROAD IS UNJUST.
IN FELIPE'S DISTRICT JUST DOWN THE ROAD A HALF A MILE, THEY'VE ALREADY APPROVED 2 PARCELS WITH A TOTAL OF ABOUT 200 UNITS FOR LOW INCOME AND GREEN VALLEY ROAD FROM WHERE MY HOUSE IS DOWN TO AIRPORT HAS ALREADY BEEN PROVEN THAT'S NOT...
[INAUDIBLE] ... THAT UNIT COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE GONNA PULL THEMSELVES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, THEY'RE FARM WORKERS, THEY'RE DAY LABORERS.
THEY OWN SMALL COMMUNITIES WHERE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S JUST UNJUST.
WE'RE NOT AGAINST THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WANNA REMIND YOU WHY WE'RE STANDING UP HERE IS TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE PRIMROSE PARCELS SHOULD NOT BE REZONED UNDER THE BATCH B.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THEY'VE BEEN REMOVED.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION SAW THAT THERE WAS DISCREPANCIES ON FITTING THIS INTO MARK CONNOLLY AND HIS STAFF'S DOCUMENTS.
I ALSO WANNA ADDRESS THE CONCERNS HERE IS THAT NOT ONE SIGN WAS IN SPANISH.
HOW DOES THAT INVOLVE MY COMMUNITY, MY MEMBERS? I'VE LIVED THERE SINCE 2018, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MYSELF AND EVERYONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL HEARD AND THAT THEY FEEL SAFE TO BE ABLE TO GO READ THAT SIGN THAT WAS ONLY WRITTEN IN ENGLISH.
[SILENCE] - GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JENNA JOHNSON, AND I AM A OWNER AT THE PRIMROSE PARCELS.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO, IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME, WHICH WE ALL KNOW WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND YOU GUYS HAVE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LISTEN TO MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE PROPOSED REZONING FOR THE PRIMROSE BUNDLE.
AND WE ARE, WE ARE NOT AGAINST THEM BEING DEVELOPED AS THEY ARE ZONED NOW AS URBAN LOW DENSITY, BUT WE JUST FIND IT ABSURD FOR THEM TO BE REZONED TO HIGH URBAN DENSITY, BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER PARCELS ON THESE MAPS, 1 THROUGH 11, THAT ARE HAVING SUCH AN EXTREME CHANGE.
AND THE AREA OF NORTH GREEN VALLEY ROAD IS ALREADY VERY CONGESTED WITH TRAFFIC, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO EVER BE EXPANDED TO A WIDER ROAD OR GET SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD.
AND WITH THE 2 OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN A HALF A MILE FROM THESE PARCELS, THERE'S GONNA JUST BE AN ADDED THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THIS VERY SMALL AREA.
AND YOU GUYS RECENTLY DEVELOPED A NICE BIKE PATH ALONG GREEN VALLEY, WHICH IS GREAT FOR THE NEIGHBORS.
BUT AT NIGHTTIME, THERE'S ALREADY PEOPLE PARKING ON THAT BIKE PATH AT NIGHTTIME.
SO THAT ISSUE COULD POTENTIALLY GET WORSENED BY ADDING SO MANY UNITS TO THAT END OF GREEN VALLEY.
THE LAST THING THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE MINISTERIAL ZONING THAT IT WOULD GET.
AND THAT IS MOST CONCERNING TO ME, BECAUSE THEN THE DEVELOPER PRETTY MUCH HAS A GREEN LIGHT TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITHOUT PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND THEY COULD PUT UP A 3-STORY OR 4-STORY FAMILY HOUSING THERE.
AND ALL OF THE ADJACENT HOMES ARE ONLY ONE STOREY.
THERE'S ONLY ONE TWO-STOREY HOUSE IN THAT AREA.
AND WE'RE ALL ON SEPTIC TANKS.
JUST LAST NIGHT, I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY HERE TODAY AND LISTENING TO THE QUIETNESS.
AND IT JUST, IT'S A LITTLE BIT CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT ADDING AN APARTMENT BUILDING OUT THERE IN SUCH A RURAL...
[SILENCE] - GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD.
I'M A 40 YEAR RESIDENT OF 915 GREEN VALLEY ROAD, WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE PRIMROSE LANE, WHICH ACTUALLY COMES THROUGH THE BACK OF OUR PROPERTY.
AND I'M HERE JOINING MY NEIGHBORS TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS PORTION OF THE REZONING.
[04:05:01]
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT AGAINST REZONE, WE ARE NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT, JUST IN THIS SITUATION, IT JUST DOESN'T FIT.JENNA BROUGHT UP THE TRAFFIC ISSUE.
LAST... YESTERDAY, ANOTHER WRECK RIGHT OUTSIDE MY HOUSE.
AND I HONESTLY CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY, THIS BRAND NEW MUSTANG COMPLETELY WIPED OUT.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THERE WAS A BUS THAT CAUGHT FIRE FROM A HEAD-ON COLLISION.
THAT WAS ON GREEN VALLEY ROAD, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOUSE.
ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, UH, TWO NIGHTS, OR A WEEK AGO TONIGHT, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WITH A WALKER TRYING TO CROSS GREEN VALLEY ROAD TO GET A, TO GET TO THE BUS.
AND OTHER THAN MESA VILLAGE, ALMOST ALL THAT DEVELOPMENT IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, OF THE NEW PATH THAT'S BEEN PUT IN THERE.
SO AGAIN, THE TRAFFIC, AS JENNA MENTIONED, THERE'S NO WAY TO- TO WIDEN THAT ROAD.
IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO HANDLE THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING AND PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW PROPOSED OUT THERE.
AND AGAIN, AS WE'VE MENTIONED, THERE'S ALREADY TWO MORE DEVELOPMENTS IT'S ALREADY, THAT WERE APPROVED IN BATCH A FARTHER DOWN GREEN VALLEY ROAD.
SO I JUST URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THINKING ABOUT THIS AS FAR AS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE REZONED, THE TRAFFIC ISSUES, THE- THE HIGH DENSITY, AND JUST THE LOCATION WHERE IT IS SO FAR AWAY FROM ALL THE SERVICES THAT AREN'T NEEDED.
- BRING IT, BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY UH, QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
- WE DO HAVE SPEAKERS ONLINE, CHAIR.
[PAUSE] RAFA, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
I'M CALLING ON BEHALF OF SANTA CRUZ EMB.
WE SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, WHILE WE SHARE THE CONCERNS RAISED BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE FEASIBILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT SITES IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COUNTY'S HOUSING ELEMENT REZONING AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERS FAIR HOUSING.
WE URGE THE COUNTY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REZONING TODAY AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF AND TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SITES THAT CAN BE, UH, THAT CAN SUPPORT ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL SITES IN HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS.
WE REMIND YOU THAT THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY COMMITTED TO UPZONING THESE SITES AND ANY CHANGES TO THE HOUSING ELEMENT SITES INVENTORY, INCLUDING FAILING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REZONINGS TODAY WILL REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND RISK HOUSING ELEMENT DECERTIFICATION AND LOSS OF LOCAL CONTROL.
WE SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
[SILENCE] - CALL IN USER 3, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
I THINK OF UM, THIS ECONOMIST WHO ASKED, "WHY IS SOMETHING HAPPENING AND WHO BENEFITS?" [PAUSE] BIG DEVELOPERS ARE TAKING OVER EVERYTHING AND I THINK THE LAW THAT WAS WRITTEN TO INCREASE THIS KIND OF HOUSING DENSITY WAS WRITTEN BY AND FOR BIG UM, DEVELOPERS AND IT'S HOUSING FOR THE WEALTHY.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THIS IS AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE OF LOW INCOME.
IN FACT, PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN LIVING ON THE STREETS OR CAMPING OUT IN PLACES ARE BEING SWEPT OFF THE STREETS.
ALSO IN TERMS OF GREEN VALLEY AREA, I URGE YOU NOT VOTE ON ALL THOSE, IS THAT GIVE A WARNING, DANGEROUS TOXIC LITHIUM BATTERY SITE PROPOSED FOR 90 MINTO ROAD OFF OF GREEN VALLEY, POSSIBLE LIKELY MOSS LANDING TYPE FIRE DISASTER ON THE HORIZON.
YOU KNOW, HOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE DISCLOSURE ON PROPERTIES.
THAT SHOULD BE THE DISCLOSURE.
THIS IS A GARGANTUAN RUINATION, DESECRATION, DESPOILMENT OF OUR COUNTY.
[SILENCE] - SEAN, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
I JUST CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY THIS IS.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME.
WE WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE LIKE THIS.
IT IS JUST... OH MY GOSH, TO JUST SQUANDER SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
[SILENCE] - CHARLIE, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
[SILENCE] - UH, HI, THIS IS CHARLIE EDIE.
I AM REPRESENTING THE OWNERS AT PRIMROSE LANE.
[04:10:02]
AND I JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF BRIEF COMMENTS.FIRST, UM, THIS IS IN THE URBAN SERVICES LINE AND IT'S BEEN, UM, THERE'VE BEEN EFFORTS TO DEVELOP THESE PARCELS IN THE PAST, BUT THERE'S ONE MAJOR PROBLEM, WHICH IS THAT IN ORDER TO GET CITY OF WATSONVILLE WATER, YOU NEED A MINIMUM OF 12 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE.
AND SO THAT ALONE, PLUS THE ZONING MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ANY SORT OF SMALL SINGLE FAMILY UH, DIVISION UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING.
THE NEW ZONING, UM, ALTHOUGH IT HAS A RANGE, THE REALISTICALLY PROBABLE OR VIABLE DEVELOPMENT IS GONNA BE AT THE LOW END.
THIS IS REALLY MORE OF A SMALL LOT SINGLE FAMILY WORKFORCE HOUSING SITE WITH, WITH UH, UM, SMALL, SMALLER DWELLINGS, MAYBE A COUPLE OF ATTACHED UNITS, BUT CERTAINLY NOT A PLACE FOR, YOU KNOW, LARGE UH, MULTI-FAMILY HIGH DENSITY UNITS.
SO WE THINK THAT UM, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY TO MEET YOUR HOUSING GOALS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY PROPERTY YOU HAVE WITHIN THE URBAN SERVICE, UH, WITHIN THE URBAN SERVICE LINE.
AND SO UM, WE'D LIKE TO URGE YOU TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THESE UH, PARCELS FOR THE REZONING.
[SILENCE] - RICHARD, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
[SILENCE] - CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M SORRY.
UM, WE OWN THE PROPERTY AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF STANLEY AND SOQUEL.
IT IS NOT IN YOUR CURRENT ZONING UH, YOUR CURRENT BATCH B, BUT UH, IN 1981, WHEN YOU HAD A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, MY GRANDMOTHER OPTED TO NOT HAVE IT BE MULTIPLE FAMILY, BUT TO BE PROFESSIONAL OFFICE.
AND UH, YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION OR YOUR...
PROPOSED A URBAN MEDIUM RESIDENTIAL FOR HER PROPERTY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IF POSSIBLE IN THIS BATCH B OR IN YOUR NEXT BATCH FOR MULTIPLE HOUSING INSTEAD OF THE PROFESSIONAL OFFICE.
WE UH, AND- AND THIS WOULD GO ALONG WITH YOUR ORIGINAL GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT BACK IN 1981.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ADJACENT TO IT TO THE EAST IS MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, AND TO THE WEST IS THE UH, PACIFIC SANTA CRUZ ANIMAL VETERINARIAN HOSPITAL.
WE'RE ON A HIGH TRAFFIC ARTERIAL.
WE ARE CLOSE TO SHOPPING AND TO A BUS STOP ACROSS THE STREET.
SO WE MAKE ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD TO BE INCLUDED IN SOME TYPE OF REZONING TO ALSO HELP THE COUNTY SATISFY THEIR HOUSING, UH, MANDATE.
AND-AND UH, IF-IF UH, I CAN SPEAK TO SOMEBODY LATER, I'VE GOT 13, 12 SECONDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO DEFINITELY HAVE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE.
I KNOW MARK CONNOR IS A PLANNER THERE OR COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] IS MY PLANNING ASSOCIATE WHO IS WORKING WITH ME.
- GREAT, THANK YOU, IF YOU COULD REACH OUT UM, OFFLINE.
[SILENCE] - WE HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, CHAIR.
- THAT'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.
AND THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S UH, [INAUDIBLE] TO BRING US TO THIS POINT.
COULD YOU DESCRIBE FOR UH, MYSELF, THE REST OF THE BOARD AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC KIND OF WHAT THE PROCESS WAS TO IDENTIFY THE SITES THAT ARE BEFORE US TODAY? [SILENCE] - SURE.
UM, SO WE BEGAN THIS PROCESS IN EARLY 2023, EVEN A LITTLE BIT BEFORE IN A MORE PREPARATORY MANNER.
AND WE HAD A NUMBER OF STAFF IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WORKING TO UH, EXAMINE PROPERTY RECORDS.
WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT EXISTING PROPERTIES 'CAUSE WE MANAGE THE PERMITTING FUNCTION.
SO WE KIND OF KNOW WHICH PROPERTIES ARE ALREADY SUBJECT TO DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURES.
SO WE WERE LOOKING AT UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTY, VACANT PROPERTY, ANYTHING THAT HAD POTENTIAL FOR REZONING.
[04:15:03]
WE ALSO HAD TO FOLLOW VERY SPECIFIC GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE.THE DEPARTMENT IS CALLED HCD, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THEY ISSUED LIKE A 40 PAGE MEMO THAT ALL COMMUNITIES HAVE TO FOLLOW.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU'RE PUTTING A SITE ON THE INVENTORY IN YOUR HOUSING ELEMENT, IT HAS TO MEET THIS VERY LENGTHY CRITERIA.
THE-THE GIST OF IT IS IT HAS TO BE REASONABLY FEASIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT CAN'T HAVE ALL KINDS OF CONSTRAINTS UM, ON IT IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FEASIBLE FOR NEW HOUSING.
ANOTHER SORT OF GENERAL PARAMETER IS IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT SITES GENERALLY FOR LARGER MULTIFAMILY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT, THOSE TYPICALLY NEED TO BE ABOVE HALF AN ACRE.
SO OUR STAFF DID SOME OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY AND SPENT I WOULD SAY PROBABLY OVER A YEAR IN TOTAL WITH A TEAM OF 6 TO 8 STAFF MEMBERS.
IT VARIED OVER TIME AS WE HAD SOME INTERNS, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT STAFF COME AND GO.
WE SOLICITED SUGGESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WE COMPILED SUGGESTIONS INTO A GIS MAP LAYER.
AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TAKING ALL THE SUGGESTIONS AND ALL... EVEN WE'D GET SUGGESTIONS FROM STAFF OR SOMETIMES APPLICANTS, BOARD MEMBERS, PLANNING COMMISSIONERS, WHOMEVER UM, AND COMPILE IT ALL.
AND THEN WE DID THE PROCESS OF SORT OF VETTING THE INFORMATION TO SEE WHAT MET THE CRITERIA.
IF SO, HOW MANY UNITS COULD WE REASONABLY PROJECT AS COULD BE A YIELD OF UNITS ON THAT SITE FOLLOWING THIS VERY SPECIFIC METHODOLOGY.
IT'S NOT JUST KIND OF UP TO US LIKE A CREATIVE ASSIGNMENT, YOU KNOW? AND THAT'S HOW WE FORMULATED THE DRAFT INVENTORY THAT WENT INTO THE HOUSING ELEMENT ITSELF.
AND SO THAT INVENTORY CONSISTED OF I THINK 7 TABLES ALTOGETHER AND THESE ARE LIKE DATA TABLES WITH PARCEL NUMBERS, PARCEL ADDRESSES, YOU KNOW, ZONING PARTICULARS AND SO FORTH.
AND UM, THE SEVENTH OF THOSE TABLES IS WHAT WE CALL THE REZONING LIST.
AND SO THEN WE FURTHER DIVIDED THAT REZONING LIST INTO TWO BATCHES, WHICH IS BATCH A AND BATCH B AND THAT'S SORT OF HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY.
- OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THE HISTORY.
I-I DO ASK BECAUSE THERE ARE PLACES WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOME PARCELS WERE SELECTED BUT NOT OTHERS AND I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE AT THE TOP OF WINKLE.
THERE'S 3 PARCELS, IDENTICALLY SIZED.
TWO ARE CITED FOR SB-10 REZONE, ONE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE IS NOT.
IS THERE LIKE A REASON FOR THAT? I DID SEE THAT COMMENT IN THE RECORD AND I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER IF I REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THAT AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN WHEN WE DID...
SO WE HAD STARTED WITH A PRIOR PROJECT EVEN BEFORE THE HOUSING ELEMENT PREPARATION WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY DOING JUST A STANDALONE SB-10 REZONING ORDINANCE.
AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, SB 10 WAS A STATE BILL THAT WAS PASSED SPECIFICALLY FOR COMMUNITIES TO HAVE AN OPTION TO REZONE SMALL PARCELS IN PRIMARILY IN EXISTING LOWER DENSITY, MOSTLY SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS TO ALLOW FOR FLEXIBLE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES TO BE DEVELOPED ON THOSE PARCELS.
SO IT CAN BE UP TO 10 UNITS ON A SINGLE PARCEL.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN 10 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
IT COULD BE LIKE A VERY MODEST LITTLE DUPLEX, FOUR-PLEX WITH LIKE 350 SQUARE FOOT STUDIO UNITS, YOU KNOW, WITH A SINGLE HOME ADJACENT, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'RE ALL IN THE SAME LOT, THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO WE WERE DOING SOME UM, OUTREACH AND WE HAD IDENTIFIED A SHORT LIST OF POSSIBLE SB-10 PROPERTIES.
WE DID EMAIL OR SEND THEM ALL LETTERS IN THE SORT OF EARLIER STAGE OF THIS EFFORT.
AND WE DID GET A HANDFUL OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WROTE BACK OR CALLED US BACK AND SAID, CAN YOU TAKE MINE OFF THE LIST? I'M JUST NOT INTERESTED.
SO IT COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS.
I DON'T REMEMBER OFFHAND, BUT THERE WAS A FEW IN THIS SB-10 GROUP THAT WAS LIKE THAT.
A COUPLE THINGS UM, I WANNA TEASE OUT A LITTLE FURTHER.
SO, UH, 'CAUSE YOU MENTIONED, UH, MARK JUST MENTIONED THIS, IS THAT LIKE THE SB-10 REZONES, IT COULD BE A DUPLEX, IT COULD BE A QUAD PLEX, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, I MEAN, IF THERE IS, ISN'T THERE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ADDED TO OUR GENERAL PLAN THAT SAYS THAT WE, THAT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE TO BE 75% OF THE MAXIMUM ZONING? AND SO IF WE'RE ZONING FOR 10 UNITS, DOESN'T THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO SEE....
- ... SEVEN OR 8 UNITS ON THESE SB-10 REZONES.
- SORT OF YES, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE MORE FINE PRINT IF I CAN PUT IT THAT WAY.
SO WE UH, INCLUDED A MINIMUM DENSITY POLICY IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT.
IT ONLY APPLIES TO RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY ZONES.
SO IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ANY SINGLE FAMILY ZONING.
AND IT HAS UM, THIS REQUIREMENT THAT THE, IF THERE'S A DISCRETIONARY APPLICATION, SO NOT JUST LIKE A BUILDING PERMIT FOR AN ADU OR A BUILDING PERMIT TO ADD 1 UNIT, BUT IF THERE'S A DISCRETIONARY APPLICATION,
[04:20:02]
WHICH IS GENERALLY FOR A LARGER PROJECT, THEN WE REVIEW THE PLANS AND THEY HAVE TO EITHER BE PROPOSING ENOUGH UNITS TO MEET THAT MINIMUM DENSITY FOR, AND THIS APPLIES TO ALL THE PARCELS, NOT JUST UM, THE ONES ON THE REZONING LIST UNLESS THERE ARE CERTAIN SITE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD LIKE BE A BARRIER TO ACHIEVING THAT YIELD ON THAT PARTICULAR SITE.LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF SITES THAT HAVE A PORTION OF THE PROPERTIES IN A RIPARIAN AREA.
SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE REASON TO MAKE THOSE SORTS OF FINDINGS OR A STEEP SLOPE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT APPLICANTS CAN DO IS THEY MIGHT SAY, "YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUILD 6 UNITS OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE..." - MM-HMM.
- WE THEN WE'LL SAY, "OKAY, YOU CAN BUILD JUST THE 1 IF THAT'S ALL YOU WANNA BUILD, BUT YOU HAVE TO SITE IT ON THE PROPERTY IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT DOESN'T PROHIBIT SOMEBODY IN THE FUTURE FROM ADDING MORE LATER." AND THAT'S AN APPROACH WE'VE BEEN TAKING FOR MANY YEARS UNDER EXISTING ZONING, EVEN BEFORE THAT POLICY WAS ADOPTED.
THE IDEA IS TO BE EFFICIENT WITH YOUR LAND USE AND NOT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A LARGER PARCEL AND YOU WANNA BUILD 1 UNIT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, THEN YOU'RE KIND OF PRECLUDING MAYBE SOMEBODY ADDING AN ADU LATER, WHATEVER, WHEREAS IF YOU SCOOCH IT MAYBE TO THE SIDE, ALLOW A LITTLE BIT OF DRIVEWAY ACCESS TO THE REAR, THEN SOMEBODY COULD BRING IN A UNIT LATER.
SO IT'S THE, IT'S A SIMILAR APPROACH.
IT'S JUST FORMALIZED MORE AND UM, SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT OUR MULTIFAMILY ZONED SITES, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE HARDEST TO-TO GET AND HARDEST TO IDENTIFY OFTEN, BECAUSE THERE IS OPPOSITION IF YOU PROPOSE TO REZONE ANYTHING TO MULTIFAMILY.
AND SO THEY'RE IN SORT OF SHORT SUPPLY.
AND SO WHERE WE DO HAVE THAT ZONING ALREADY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SITES ARE USED EFFICIENTLY.
BUT THE IDEA WITH THE SB10 IS NOT THAT ANYBODY'S GONNA FORCE ANY OF THESE PROPERTY OWNERS TO BUILD ANYTHING.
IT JUST MEANS IF THEY WANTED TO, THEY HAVE THE OPTION.
THERE, IT'S, THESE SB-10 SITES DON'T HAVE THE MINISTERIAL OVERLAY.
SO THEY WOULDN'T BE MINISTERIAL PROJECTS IN MOST CASES IF THEY'RE PROPOSING LIKE 6, 7, 8, 9 UNITS, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
BUT OF COURSE THEY ALL STILL HAVE THE OPTION IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO JUST ADD LIKE AN ADU, THAT'S A MINISTERIAL PROCESS FOR EVERY- EVERYBODY FOR THE MOST PART.
YEAH, I MEAN, MOST OF THE, OF THE SITES THAT ARE FOR SB-10 REZONING, IF NOT ALL I THINK ARE WOULD, WOULD GO TO RM ZONING.
SO I MEAN, THIS WOULD, WOULD APPLY TO THEM.
AND I MEAN, A LOT OF 'EM ARE ABOUT HALF AN ACRE.
SO I MEAN, EVEN THEN, YOU KNOW, FITTING 7 TO 10 UNITS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY TIGHT.
AND SO IT WOULD DEFINITELY REQUIRE SORT OF A COMPACT, UH, DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
SO, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS, I KNOW ONE OF THE PROPERTIES, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF, UM, A MINOR LAND DIVISION AND GOING FROM, FROM 1 TO, TO 3 AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT WOULD NOT BE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IF IT'S THE WHOLE PARCEL, OR CURRENT PARCEL THAT REZONED AT... UNDER SB 10, IT JUST MIGHT HAVE SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR HOW THE PARCEL'S BUILT ON.
SO YEAH, IN THAT KIND OF SCENARIO, AND I THINK THE QUESTION WAS IF ONE OF THESE SITES HAS LIKE A PENDING MAP FOR, TO DIVIDE IT INTO 3.
SO UNDER THAT SCENARIO THAT OWNER COULD STILL, LET'S SAY PUT A SINGLE FAMILY AND AN ADU ON EACH OF THE 3 NEW PARCELS.
AND THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE HITTING THAT TARGET.
REMEMBER IT'S 75% OF THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE DENSITY ON THAT SITE.
SO WE'D HAVE TO DO THE MATH AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS.
AND THEN YOU ALSO NET OUT ANY EXISTING DWELLING UNITS ON THE SITE.
SO YOU WOULD SUBTRACT THOSE, ASSUMING THEY'RE GONNA BE RETAINED.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MATH AND ANALYSIS THAT GOES ON, WHICH WITH EACH OF THESE, UM, YOU MIGHT ALSO NOTICE THAT ON THE LIST OF SB-10 SITES, THERE'S SOME THAT HAVE, UM, A NUMBER LESS THAN 9.
MANY OF THEM HAVE LESS THAN 9 BECAUSE WE FOUND IN EXAMINING PARCEL DATA, A LOT OF THEM ALREADY HAVE MULTIPLE UNITS ON THE SITE.
AND SO WE JUST FOLLOWED SB 10, IT'S A MAXIMUM OF 10, SO IT, WHATEVER THE EXISTING NUMBER IT IS, THAT'S REDUCING THE POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL UNITS THAT COULD GO ON THAT SITE.
AND IN SOME CASES, THESE PROPOSALS, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE ACTUALLY NON-CONFORMING BECAUSE THEY HAVE LIKE 6 OR 7 OR 8 UNITS ON THEM.
AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY ZONED SINGLE FAMILY.
SO THEY'RE NONCONFORMING USES AND THE REZONING WOULD MAKE THEM CONFORMING AND THEN ALLOW 'EM TO POTENTIALLY ADD LIKE ANOTHER ADU OR TWO AND THEN... OR, OR NOT.
THEY COULD JUST HOLD IT THE WAY IT IS.
BUT IF... SO, IF WE HAD 1 OF THESE SB-10 PARCELS AND WAS, JUST WANTED TO BUILD 3 UNITS, IT WOULD BE LIKE CATEGORICALLY DENIED BECAUSE 3 IS LESS THAN... I MEAN,
[04:25:01]
AND USE THE ENTIRE SITE, RIGHT? THAT IT WOULD BE CATEGORICALLY DENIED BECAUSE IT WAS PROHIBITING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF WHATEVER, 7 UNITS TOTAL AS A MINIMUM, RIGHT? - SO I CAN'T SAY NECESSARILY YES OR NO BECAUSE WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ACREAGE, MULTIPLY OUT AND DO THAT DENSITY CALCULATION OF WHAT IS 75% OF THE ALLOWABLE DENSITY OF THE HIGH END OF THE RANGE ON THAT PARTICULAR SITE, FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS, FIGURE OUT IF THEIR PROPOSAL MEETS THE 75%.AND IF IT DOESN'T EITHER, CAN THEY DESIGN THEIR, THEIR PROJECT SO THAT IT STILL WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT REMAINING CAPACITY TO GET BUILT.
OR THEY COULD PURSUE A, AN EXCEPTION THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO SAY THAT THERE'S CRITERIA ON THE SITE THAT, YOU KNOW, PREVENTS THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT, THAT TARGET.
BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE MINISTERIAL OPTIONS THAT THEY COULD ALSO PURSUE.
SO THEY COULD DO AN ADU, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO LIKE AN ADU, A JADU, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL OTHER THINGS.
- SURE, SORT OF THE CLASSIC, LIKE YOU SAID, MINISTERIAL BUY, RIGHT? THE BUILDING PERMITS WOULD NOT BE DENIED.
SORRY FOR TEASING THIS OUT SO MUCH, BUT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, 31 OUT THE 47, REZONINGS ARE THESE SB-10 REZONING'S.
CAN YOU JUST TELL ME, I MEAN, SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN IN A NUTSHELL LIKE WHY SO MANY OF THESE PARCELS ARE IN LIVE OAK AND SOQUEL? - THAT'S JUST WHERE WE FOUND THE, THE UNDERUTILIZED AND VACANT PARCELS THAT MEET THE CRITERIA.
NOW, SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR SB-10 IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL HCD CRITERIA FOR THE REZONING IN GENERAL WAS JUST TO, UM...
PART OF THE SB-10 LAW WAS THAT YOU CAN'T BE REDUCING THE DENSITY ON ONE OF THESE SITES IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENT THIS OPTION.
AND SO JUST THE WAY THE MATH WORKED OUT WITH THE WAY OUR DENSITY RANGES ARE, IT MEANT THAT THE SITE HAD TO BE ROUGHLY BETWEEN ABOUT FOUR TENTHS OF AN ACRE AND AN ACRE IN AREA.
THEN, YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAVE AN EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOME OR NOT, BUT IT COULDN'T HAVE LIKE CERTAIN OTHER THINGS ON IT.
SO THERE, THERE'S ALL THIS CRITERIA YOU HAD TO RUN THROUGH.
SO WE STARTED WITH A REALLY WIDE NET, A LARGE GROUP OF PARCELS, AND WE KINDA WEEDED THROUGH THEM.
AND THE ONES THAT WE WOUND UP WITH ARE THE ONES THAT WE MOVED FORWARD WITH.
AND THEN, LIKE I SAID, THERE WAS A FEW PEOPLE THAT CALLED AND ASKED FOR THEIR PARCEL TO BE REMOVED.
SO, SO EVEN LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, A PROPERTY THAT'S CURRENTLY ZONED COMMERCIAL BUT COULD HAVE A MIXED USE PROJECT THAT OF HIGHER DENSITY WOULD BE EXCLUDED BECAUSE THAT MIXED USE HIGHER DENSITY PROJECT IN A COMMERCIAL ZONING WOULDN'T, WOULD MAKE IT INELIGIBLE TO...
AND YOU COULDN'T GET MORE UNITS WITH AN SB-10 REZONE.
- WELL, AND SB 10 WAS SPECIFICALLY LIMITED TO PROPERTIES THAT ARE ALREADY ZONED TO R1.
- SO THEY HAD TO BE SINGLE FAMILY ZONING.
YOU COULDN'T USE LIKE PUBLIC FACILITY OR COMMERCIAL ZONED PROPERTY FOR THIS PARTICULAR OPTION.
I MEAN, YEAH, THAT, IT DOES MAKE SENSE BOTH SOQUEL AND LIVE OAK, JUST THE NATURE OF DEVELOPMENT.
YOU KNOW, IT HASN'T BEEN, UM, SORT OF COHESIVE OR [LAUGHS].
IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, A SLOW PROCESS.
AND SO THERE, THERE ARE MORE, UH, SORT OF THE, OF THESE MID-SIZED PARCELS.
I MEAN, I WAS LOOKING AT APTOS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ENTIRE COASTAL SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.
IT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, 5,000, WHATEVER, 6,000 SQUARE FOOT LOTS BECAUSE IT WAS DEVELOPED, I THINK IN LARGER TRACTS ULTIMATELY.
AND JUST HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO COMPLETE THE REZONINGS FOR OUR HOUSING ELEMENT? I MEAN, IF ANY, IF WE DID HAVE TO IDENTIFY ANY REPLACEMENT PARCELS, WHAT'S OUR TIMELINE WITH HCD ON THIS? - I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF LEFT.
IS THAT CORRECT, MARK? - YEAH, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 3 YEARS, AS AFFIRMED BY THE STATE, AND WE'RE ABOUT A YEAR, 1.7.
WE'RE ALMOST HALFWAY INTO IT RIGHT NOW.
SO YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S ABOUT THE TIMEFRAMES.
I WILL SAY, I MEAN PROBABLY OF...
ONE PARCEL THAT DEFINITELY STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE PRATHER LANE PARCEL THAT'S CURRENTLY ZONED FOR, UH, A PARK.
AND I KNOW WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS POSSIBLE FORCE BY-, IDENTIFIED AS A SURPLUS, UH, PROPERTY, BUT ESPECIALLY GIVEN ALL THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE WHATEVER IT WAS, '21, '22, WHEN WE DID HEAR THAT REPORT ON SURPLUS PROPERTY, I MEAN, NOW WE'RE SEEING THIS IS PROBABLY THE AREA WITH THE MOST DENSE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
WE'VE GOT ANTON, THURBER, A PROPOSAL FOR 180 UNITS NEXT DOOR.
I UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT THE PROPERTY OVER AT GOOD SHEPHERD MAY HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR MORE, MULTIFAMILY HOUSING AT 41ST AND SOQUEL, THERE'S GONNA BE INTENSE PRESSURE FOR RECREATIONAL SPACE IN THIS AREA.
AND I THINK THERE'S, UM, THERE'S NOT REALLY A STANDOUT PARK IN SORT OF NORTH LIVE OAK RIGHT NOW.
AND SO I THINK WE REALLY SHOULD PRESERVE THIS OPTION
[04:30:01]
TO EXPAND THE PARK IN THE FUTURE.I MEAN, AND PLUS WE'RE ONLY PLANNING 5 UNITS THERE.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE LIKE A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE PROJECT.
THE ONLY OTHER PARCEL THAT REALLY DOES STAND OUT TO ME IS THE, THE PAUL MINNIE PARCEL THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO A COUNTY ROAD.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ON AN EASEMENT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT VERY MUCH, I THINK LIMITS THE POTENTIAL OF IT BEING DEVELOPED IN THE FUTURE.
AND ULTIMATELY WE WANT US TO CHOOSE SITES THAT, ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT WE ARE GONNA MEET OUR HOUSING ELEMENT.
ESPECIALLY, I THINK IT'S, IT'S...
MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THE SB-10 REZONES ARE A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO, UH, FIND ALTERNATIVE SITES THAT ARE CEQA EXEMPT.
SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO INCLUDE 'EM IN, I THINK WE DID THIS AS A SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE AMENDMENT TO THE EIR.
SO, UM, SO THAT ANY OF THE, THE SB-10 REZONES WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO FIND ALTERNATE SITES FOR IF WE NEEDED TO.
IS, IS THAT RIGHT? - [LAUGHS] I CAN SAY THAT WE REALLY BEAT THE BUSHES FOR POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES BOTH IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THIS PROCESS AND MORE RECENTLY AS FOLKS HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT ALTERNATIVES.
MAYBE THERE'S SOME OUT THERE I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY YET.
I DID LOOK THROUGH, I THINK ONE RESIDENT EMAILED US ABOUT 8 PARCELS.
I RESEARCHED THEM ALL THOROUGHLY.
AND, UM, SEVERAL OF THEM ARE, UH, ON THE REZONING LIST ALREADY.
I THINK A COUPLE TODAY IN BATCH B AND ONE MAYBE IN BATCH A.
A COUPLE OF THE OTHERS ARE IN THE INVENTORY ALREADY AND BEING COUNTED UNDER THEIR CURRENT ZONING.
THEY DON'T REALLY NEED AN, ANOTHER ZONING CHANGE, BUT THEY'RE ALREADY BEING COUNTED.
SO IF WE USE THEM AS AN ALTERNATE, IT WOULD BE DOUBLE COUNTING THOSE SITES AND THOSE UNITS.
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO THAT DIDN'T MEET THE CRITERIA THAT HCD LAYS OUT 'CAUSE THEY'RE LIKE LARGELY RIPARIAN PROPERTY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, I CAN'T SAY I HAVE AN EASY, LIKE JUST SUB THIS ONE IN THERE OR THERE.
BUT YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE SOME OUT THERE, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.
- I'M, I'M FAIRLY CONFIDENT THERE IS...
- ... OTHER SITES, UH, IF NEED BE BUT UM...
YOU KNOW, WE HEARD, UH, JUST FINALLY A COMMENT.
YOU KNOW, ANYTHING BEING PROPOSED TODAY FOR REZONING, I MEAN, ANYONE WOULD HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY FOLLOW OUR COUNTY ZONING STANDARDS IF THEY WANNA DEVELOP.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD THE COMMENT OF DECRYING 3-STORY BUILDINGS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS LARGELY 1 AND 2 STORIES TODAY.
BUT IF WE FAIL TO DO THIS REZONING AND IF OUR HOUSING ELEMENT IS INVALIDATED BY HCD, THAT REALLY PUSHES US BACK INTO "BUILDER'S REMEDY" AND I CAN TELL ANYONE LISTENING AND, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT MY LEAST HAPPY CONSTITUENTS TODAY ARE THE ONES NEXT TO THE "BUILDER'S REMEDY" PROJECT, WHICH IS 5 STORIES.
SO REALLY WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE ARE TRYING TO BOTH DO OUR PART IN BUILDING MORE HOUSING HERE, BUT ALSO WALK A VERY FINE LINE, WITH WHAT THE STATE IS REQUIRING US TO DO, AND, YOU KNOW, BUILD MORE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY IN, IN THE WAY THAT, UM, WILL ULTIMATELY BE THE BEST AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, FUTURE TRAFFIC PATTERNS UTILIZING THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE WE ALREADY HAVE, WHETHER THOSE ARE PARKS, UH, OR SCHOOLS.
SO JUST A COMMENT AS WE, WE CONSIDER THIS AS A BOARD AND HAPPY TO YIELD THE REST OF, UH, MY COMMENTS [SILENCE] - SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ.
THANK YOU SUPERVISOR KOENIG FOR THE COMMENTS.
A NUMBER OF MY QUESTIONS WERE RESOLVED THROUGH THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED.
THE ONE THING THAT REALLY COMES TO MIND TO ME, AS WE MEET OUR HOUSING GOALS IS TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND HOLISTIC COMMUNITIES.
YOU KNOW, THAT INVOLVES WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL- ALL TYPES OF IN INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING PARKS.
AND AS, AS WE HEARD TODAY, A NUMBER OF THE PARCELS LISTED TO BE REZONED, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY ARE PARKS, RECREATION, OPEN SPACE, AND THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO BE REZONED.
AND I, AND WE GOT SOME QUESTIONS AROUND SORT OF PARTICIPATION FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
I PERSONALLY HAVE SAT ON THE PARKS COMMISSION FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND, UM, WASN'T A PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS.
AND SO JUST MY, MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW DO WE ENGAGE WITH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WHEN WE PROPOSE THESE TYPE OF CHANGES? REALLY WITH THE, WITH THE HOPE THAT AS WE LOOK AT FUTURE REZONING, WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT A MORE HOLISTIC PICTURE OF OPEN SPACE ALONG WITH OUR HOUSING GOALS.
[SILENCE] - THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ.
I JUST WANT TO FIRST OF ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH OF THIS.
WE CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH OUTREACH
[04:35:02]
WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR SISTER AGENCIES, INTERAGENCIES WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WHAT WE DO IS WE'LL START OFF, AND THIS IS AN EFFORT THAT BEGAN WITH EVEN THE SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE, RIGHT? WHERE WE HAD A LOT OF THESE PARCELS THAT WERE THOUGHT OF, AND THAT'S WHERE THE RES FLEX IDEA CAME FROM THAT HAS THE HIGH DENSITY IN THOSE, UH, THOSE MULTIMODAL AREAS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW THESE THINGS HAPPEN, WE THINK ABOUT WHO DOES IT AFFECT, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL.
AND WE DO IT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC OUTREACH MEETINGS.
WE TRY TO HOLD MEETINGS IN THIS DAY AND AGE, BOTH, YOU KNOW, VIRTUALLY TO REACH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUR AGENCIES.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PARKS HERE, WE, WE REACH OUT IN THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PROJECT THROUGH THE SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE, THROUGH THE HOUSING ELEMENT, THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, THROUGH THE, THE REZONE SPECIFICALLY, I CAN TELL YOU IT WAS, IT WAS KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS ALL BEEN OUT HERE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS THROUGHOUT AND, AND SPOKE WITH MANAGEMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT LEVELS AND HAD COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
IT WAS MORE ABOUT, "HEY, IF YOU WANNA ENGAGE, FEEL FREE TO DO THAT.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHATEVER WE NEED TO." SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, APOLOGIES.
I DON'T THINK WE REACHED OUT TO THE, THE PARKS COMMISSION SPECIFICALLY.
SO THAT'S, UH, AN AREA I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE CAME UP A LITTLE SHORT THERE, AND THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH OF THIS THAT WE CAN DO.
SO I THINK IN THE FUTURE FOR THESE KIND OF EFFORTS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THEM COMING STILL SO WE'LL BE MUCH MORE MINDFUL TO INCLUDE YOU KNOW, PARKS COMMISSIONS AND EVEN OTHER, INTER-AGENCY COMMISSIONS AND, AND COMMITTEES.
BUT THAT, I HOPE THAT KINDA GIVES YOU A BROAD WAY OF HOW WE ENGAGE AND WHAT WE INTEND TO DO.
AND IT'S ALWAYS OUR INTENT TO GET EVERYBODY'S INVOLVEMENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
- YEAH, IF I COULD JUST ADD A LITTLE CLARIFYING NOTE IN TERMS OF THE ZONING AND WHAT IT MEANS.
SO PARKS IS AN ALLOWED USE, JUST LIKE A PUBLIC FACILITY.
IT'S AN ALLOWED USE IN ANY ZONE.
SO WHETHER WE REZONE THE PRATHER LANE PARCEL OR NOT, PARKS IS NOT REQUIRED TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN THEY'RE DOING WITH IT NOW.
IT DOESN'T LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO IMPROVE IT FOR PARK SPACE.
CURRENTLY IT IS IN RESIDENTIAL USE.
THERE'S TWO OCCUPIED DWELLING UNITS THERE THAT PARKS RENTS OUT TO PEOPLE.
AND SO IT IS IN RESIDENTIAL USE, I THINK THERE'S SOME SORT OF LIKE FENCE THING THERE, INFORMAL FENCE.
WE'RE NOT PROPOSING TO TOUCH THE REST OF THE PARK.
THAT'S ACTUALLY IMPROVED FOR PARK USES CURRENTLY.
AND LIKE I SAID, THE REZONING ITSELF DOESN'T FORCE PARKS TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENT DECISIONS.
YOU KNOW, THEY, YOU KNOW, MANAGE IT FOR THE COUNTY.
THE BOARD DECIDES WHETHER OR NOT THAT PROPERTY IS SURPLUSED OR IMPROVED IN ANY WHICH WAY.
UM, SO IT REALLY DOESN'T LIMIT OPTIONS FOR THE COUNTY AS FAR AS WHAT TO DO WITH THAT PROPERTY.
THE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN QUESTION ARE ALL IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.
ONE OF THEM IN PARTICULAR, THE UM, UH, PAR 3 SITE, ON MAR VISTA, DECADES AGO WAS ZONED FOR, UH, HOUSING.
AND IT WAS PROPOSED FOR A LARGE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, I THINK ABOUT 20 OR SO UH, YEARS AGO.
AND IT WAS IN REACTION TO THAT PROPOSAL THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY ZONED TO PARK AND REC, I THINK IN LIKE 2005, '6, '7, SOMEWHERE IN THEREABOUTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY ABOUT THAT [LAUGHS].
NO, THANK YOU FOR THAT BIT OF HISTORY AND FOR THE FURTHER INFORMATION AND CONTEXT.
IT CERTAINLY ISN'T MY INTENT TO SLOW DOWN THIS PROCESS.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS, UM, REZONING OF BATCH B AND UM, AND JUST REALLY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK TO MEET OUR, UM, THE GOALS OF THE STATE, OUR HOUSING ELEMENT GOALS AND THE GOALS OF OUR COUNTY TO IN, UM, INCREASE AVAILABLE HOUSING HERE LOCALLY.
- WELL THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
ACTUALLY TWO QUESTIONS AND THEN A COUPLE COMMENTS.
SEVENTH AND BROMMER SITE, IS THAT STILL, IS THAT PROPERTY STILL OWNED BY THE COUNTY? - YES.
I GUESS WHAT'S THE KIND OF UPDATE ON WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THAT SITE SINCE THAT'S ONE OF THE FEW SITES THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE CONTROL OVER? - SO, THE BOARD DID DECLARE THAT PROPERTY SURPLUS IN 2023.
IT'S NOT OUR DEPARTMENT THAT'S MANAGING THAT PROCESS.
I THINK IT'S, UM, THE, UH, GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HERE WANTS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
- YEAH, THERE'S, UM, WE CAN PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH AN UPDATE ON THAT AT A FUTURE DATE, BUT THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT ON PART OF THAT PARCEL.
THERE'S A PROPOSAL ALSO TO, UM, DO A, UM, PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PORT, WITH HARBOR AND POSSIBLY DOING SOME, UM, RV PARKING SITE ON PART OF THAT AS WELL.
[04:40:01]
AND SO, SUPERVISOR KOENIG MIGHT EVEN BE MORE ON TOP OF IT.- YEAH, NO, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S...
BOTH OF THOSE COMMENTS ARE ACCURATE AND I, THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IN OUR GENERAL PLAN THAT SAYS ONE ACRE OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE PRESERVED FOR PARK OR OPEN SPACE WITH PUBLIC ACCESS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING TO THIS, THIS, UH, CONCERN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOSING POTENTIAL PARK SPACE, THERE, THERE IS, UM, THAT EXPLICITLY CALLED OUT WITHIN OUR GENERAL PLAN, JUST AS THERE IS ALSO FOR THE PAR 3 SITE FOR THE FOUR ACRES.
AS OF COURSE YOU'LL REMEMBER, WE PASSED THAT RESOLUTION, UM, AT THE BOARD JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
I GUESS THE ONE CONCERN THAT I THINK, THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TOO IS THAT WITHIN THIS PROCESS, I KNOW THAT HCD IS, AND, AND THE STATE IS REALLY FIXATED ON THE PRODUCTION OF HOUSING, BUT I THINK THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED OVER TIME IS THAT WE SHOULD REALLY BE BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND NOT JUST BUILDING HOUSING.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE, AND I THINK IT WAS BROUGHT UP WHERE YOU HAVE, WE'RE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, DENSE HOUSING AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR NEAREST GROCERY STORE MIGHT BE LIKE TWO AND A HALF MILES AWAY.
SO WHY ARE WE NOT TRYING TO IN, DURING THIS PROCESS PROVIDE, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT BUILDING MORE DENSE HOUSING, LIKE BUILDING ACTUAL RETAIL SPACE FOR SPECIFIC USES THAT CAN HELP MAKE THESE COMMUNITIES MORE WALKABLE RATHER THAN JUST BEING FIXATED ON HOUSING.
BECAUSE TO A LOT OF THE POINTS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT UP, THERE'S GONNA BE ISSUES WITH TRAFFIC AND WALKABILITY.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S GONNA MAKE A LOT OF THESE AREAS MUCH MORE CONGESTED AND THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF ISSUES.
THAT ARE GONNA BE RAISED AS WE PROVIDE MORE HOUSING.
AND AGAIN, WE, WE HAVE MANY DISCUSSIONS AROUND, YOU KNOW, AREAS WHERE THERE'S FOOD DESERTS AND WANTING TO OVERCOME THAT, AND THEN HERE'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
AND I DON'T REALLY SEE THAT BEING A, A BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MEET THE STATE'S STANDARDS.
AND I, I'LL PERSONALLY JUST SAY THAT I, I, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT PROCESS, AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE WORK YOU ALL DO.
I JUST THINK THE FACT THAT THE STATE IS DEMANDING US TO DO THINGS AND THEN THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION IN TERMS OF PROVIDING HOUSING IN COMMUNITIES, LIKE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE COMPLEX.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT ISSUES WITH RESOURCES AND ROADS AND SO I REALLY JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO REACH OUT TO, YOU KNOW, OUR STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND OUR STATE SENATOR TO REALLY, EXPRESS THE FRUSTRATION OF THIS PROCESS BECAUSE, AGAIN TO SUPERVISOR KOENIG'S POINT, IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD AND WE'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE HOUSING ELEMENT, THEN "BUILDERS REMEDY" KICKS IN AND PEOPLE CAN JUST COME IN AND DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND WE HAVE NO SAY.
AND SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS MAINTAIN SOME SEMBLANCE AND SOME LEVEL OF LOCAL CONTROL, UNDERSTANDING THAT A LOT OF THAT'S BEEN STRIPPED AWAY FROM US.
BUT I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE SEEING CHANGES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A VOTE FOR GOVERNOR COMING UP SOON AND A LOT OF THOSE STATE LEVEL POSITIONS LIKE REALLY TRYING TO PUSH FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA GIVE US OUR CONTROL BACK, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE CRITICAL SO THAT WE HAVE MORE SAY OVER THE HOUSING THAT'S GETTING BUILT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SINCE A LOT OF THIS REZONING IS NOT IN MY DISTRICT, I'M GONNA BE LOOKING TO THE OTHER SUPERVISORS IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES TO BE MADE AND RELUCTANTLY WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
BUT AGAIN, I- I- I HEAR THE FRUSTRATION.
I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE SENTIMENT EXPRESSED IN THIS ROOM, AND I ALSO DO WANT TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, SO IN AGREEMENT WITH WHAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID, I-I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND PARTLY IT'S BECAUSE I'M SO NEW TO, TO THIS PROCESS.
SO ON THE PRIMROSE PROPERTIES, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE MAP, AND THESE ARE RURAL PROPERTIES, BUCOLIC, PEOPLE HAVE LIVED THERE IN PART FOR THEIR...
POTENTIALLY THEIR WHOLE LIVES 'CAUSE ONE OF THESE PARCELS IS A FAMILY HOME.
THEN THEY USED TO OWN THE ENTIRE RANCH.
[PAUSE] IT- IT... IS THERE ANY ROOM FOR COMPROMISE AT THIS POINT? LIKE, COULD TWO OF THOSE PARCELS BE PEELED OFF POTENTIALLY? THIS IS A... THE- THE- THE SERIES OF 5 PARCELS, THERE'S NO GROCERY STORES, THERE'S A NARROW DEAD END ROAD GOING IN.
YOU'VE HEARD SOMEBODY WHO'S AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXPERT TELL YOU IT'S NOT IN LINE FOR ANY TAX CREDITS BECAUSE OF ITS AREA WHERE IT IS NOT NEAR ANY AMENITIES.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DENSITY TO PUT AROUND 3 PARCELS THAT ARE PEOPLE'S HOMES AND IT'S RIGHT BACKED UP TO AGRICULTURE.
IT JUST DOES NOT FIT WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I... YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN UP AND DOWN RECENTLY ON GREEN VALLEY ROAD AND I'VE SEEN THE- THE NEW BIKE PATH, ET CETERA.
WHAT IT DID WAS SORT OF, I THINK, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, REMOVED THE PULLOUTS FOR THE BUSES, SO THERE'S NOWHERE FOR A BUS TO PULL OVER TO LOAD PEOPLE ON.
[04:45:04]
EVERYBODY HAS TO STOP BEHIND THE BUS.AND IF WE'RE GONNA REALLY BE PUTTING THOUSANDS OF NEW RESIDENTS ONTO GREEN VALLEY ROAD, LIKE THAT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
SO, I'M SORRY MY... THAT'S A LOT OF WORDS, BUT MY ORIGINAL QUESTION STANDS, IS THERE ANY WAY TO PEEL OFF A COUPLE OF THOSE PARCELS? - I CAN TRY TO ANSWER THAT.
SO, UM, CERTAINLY, YOU HAVE OPTIONS TO, YOU KNOW, REMOVE OR POSTPONE SOME OF THE PARCELS FROM BATCH B.
I WOULD SAY ANY LITTLE BIT RISKS, WHAT ONE OF THE CALLERS MENTIONED, WHICH IS THAT WE COULD GET ACCUSED OF- OF NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON OUR REZONING PROGRAM.
WE DON'T HONESTLY KNOW AS STAFF, WE CAN'T GIVE YOU LIKE, "IT'S 50% ODDS," OR "90% ODDS," OF THEM DECERTIFYING US.
BUT I THINK THAT THE RISK THAT SUPERVISOR KOENIG DESCRIBED OF IF, THEY DO, UH, RESCIND THE COUNTY CERTIFICATION, THEN THE ENTIRE JURISDICTION, THE ENTIRE TERRITORY IS SUBJECT TO "BUILDER'S REMEDY" 2.0.
AND I THINK NATALIE, OUR COUNTY [INAUDIBLE], MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A BETTER ANSWER.
NATALIE KIRKISH FROM THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S OFFICE.
ONE ADDITIONAL, UH, CONSIDERATION IS THAT IF WE DO NOT COMPLETE THE REZONING WITHIN 3 YEARS, THEN ANY PARCEL THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT FOR REZONING UH, THE COUNTY NO LONGER HAS THE ABILITY TO DENY THAT PROJECT AT THE DENSITY PROPOSED IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT ITSELF.
SO IF YOU DECIDE TO REMOVE ONE OF THESE PARCELS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT, SOMEONE CAN COME WITH A PROPOSAL IN THE FUTURE AND THE ABILITY TO DENY THAT BASED ON THIS ZONING THAT'S IDENTIFIED IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT IS VERY LIMITED.
[SILENCE] - AND MAYBE A COUPLE EXTRA POINTS TO THAT TOO, THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT COULD BE MORE INTENSE THAN YOU WOULD GET TODAY.
AND THE LAST PIECE I JUST WANNA ADD HERE FOR SUPERVISOR DE SERPA IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE NUMBER AND I THINK WE ALL GET, KINDA GET CAUGHT UP IN THE BIG NUMBER AND, YOU KNOW, THE- THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOW IT BUILDS A COMMUNITY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE BUILDING THE COMMUNITY IS OUR INCOME LEVELS.
AND I'VE EXPLAINED THIS TO A LOT OF FOLKS IN REGARD TO THESE PARTICULAR PARCELS AND OTHERS THAT, YOU KNOW, LOSING ONE SITE MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A VERY BIG DEAL, BUT WHAT IT DOES TO THAT INCOME CATEGORY, PARTICULARLY THAT VERY LOW, WHERE WE'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING, UH, CAN BE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
- IF I COULD, UH, JUST CHIME IN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISORS.
MATT MACHADO, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
JUST A LITTLE CLAR- CLARITY ON THE GREEN VALLEY PROJECT.
AND SO THAT WAS A LITTLE OVER A 2 MILE, MULTI-USE BIKE PATH THAT WE CONSTRUCTED, JUST RECENTLY FINISHED AND WE TOOK A TOUR OUT THERE, WHICH LOOKS REALLY GREAT.
IT DOES GO ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF...
WELL, WHERE GREEN VALLEY TURNS RIGHT THERE AT MESA.
AND I WANTED TO ADD THAT, UM, THE 6 BUS STOPS THAT WE UPGRADED WAS TO IMPROVE THAT AS A TRANSIT CORRIDOR AND SO WE MADE MAJOR INVESTMENTS THERE WITH TRASH RECEPTACLES.
WE ALSO INCLUDED NEW EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE SCHOOLS SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO BIKE AND USE THAT FACILITY FOR PETS AND BIKE, UH, USES.
IT ALSO CONNECTS A COUPLE OF PRETTY SIGNIFICANT REGIONAL PARKS RIGHT THERE ON THAT SAME CORRIDOR.
'CAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S ALREADY A SIGNIFICANT URBAN CORRIDOR IN THAT AREA.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE CLARITY ON THAT TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE JUST COMPLETED OR MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO- TO ACCOMMODATE EXISTING HOMES AND POTENTIALLY FUTURE ONES.
- ON THAT NORTH SIDE, CORRECT? YEAH.
RIGHT? BECAUSE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S IM-...
THERE'S NO IMPROVEMENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
- SO, WELL THE, THE CORRIDOR RUNS NORTH SOUTH, AND SO THE, UH, MOST OF THE IMPROVEMENT WAS ON THE WEST SIDE ON THE UNDEVELOPED SIDE.
AND IN THERE IT SWITCHES TO THE, TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE CORRIDOR ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BEND.
SO IT DOES JUMP ACROSS THE STREET THERE, BUT IT IS A- IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PATH THAT SERVES EVERYBODY IN THE ADJACENT AREAS, YOU KNOW, CONNECTING PARKS.
- YEAH, THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE- ARE VERY GOOD.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THE TRANSIT CORRIDOR COMPONENT INTO THAT, SO THANK YOU.
[SILENCE] - [SNEEZES] IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, UH...
I THINK I'M IN THE SAME BOAT AS- AS SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS.
TOO MUCH SKIN IN THE GAME ON THIS ONE, BUT I... YOU KNOW, IF... WE'VE HAD RESIDENT...
TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF RESIDENTS COME AND IF THERE'S A COMPROMISE, I'D BE WILLING TO STILL SUPPORT.
BUT I DO SUPPORT THE BATCH B, RIGHT, OF THIS PLAN.
[04:50:01]
BUT I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M OPEN TO COMPROMISE ON, YOU KNOW, SUPERVISOR DE SERPA'S AND SUPERVISOR KOENIG ON THESE.BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.
- YEAH, THIS IS GENERAL AND I'M HOPING AT SOME POINT IN THIS WE CAN COME BACK TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE TO DO TODAY, BUT HOW MANY...
WHAT- WHAT GUARANTEES ARE BEING PUT IN PLACE THAT THESE...
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE VERY LOW AND LOW UNITS, ARE GONNA BE DEED RESTRICTED TO REMAIN VERY LOW AND LOW, FOR VERY LOW AND LOW INCOME PEOPLE.
I'M JUST GONNA EXPRESS FROM MY EXPERIENCE ON THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE BY DESIGN AND THEN THEY PUT THOSE UNITS INTO THOSE CATEGORIES.
AND IN MY OPINION, THAT'S A JOKE BECAUSE IF THERE'S NOTHING RESTRICTING A UNIT FROM BEING IN PERPETUITY DEED RESTRICTED TO SERVE PEOPLE OF THOSE INCOME TYPES, THEN THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S GONNA PREVENT THE, THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT UNIT TO GO INTO ANOTHER INCOME CATEGORY OR GET RENTED AT A HIGHER RATE, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND WE'RE GONNA, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE REZONING ALL THESE PROPERTIES TO TRY TO MEET THESE HOUSING GOALS, I THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY AND THAT WE'RE GONNA PUT MEASURES IN PLACE TO, TO ENSURE THAT THESE HOUS-...
THE HOUSING THAT WE SAY WE'RE BUILDING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OF LOWER INCOMES TO HELP OUR WORKFORCE, THAT'S ACTUALLY GONNA GO TO THOSE PEOPLE AND NOT LATER ON DOWN THE LINE GO TO SOME HIGHER INCOME LEVEL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHAT ARE WE DOING RIGHT NOW? AND, AND I THINK IF...
YEAH, I'LL JUST STOP RIGHT- STOP RIGHT THERE AND ASK WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
- SO, UH, THE ANSWER, UH, WILL BE, [CHUCKLES] ONE OF THESE, "IT DEPENDS" ANSWERS.
IT DEPENDS ON WHICH SITE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED.
SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AS I THINK MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, AN INCLUSIONARY ZONING REQUIREMENT THAT IS MANDATORY FOR FOR-SALE PROJECTS OF 7 OR MORE UNITS.
AND THERE'S AN OPT-IN VERSION OF THAT FOR RENTAL PROJECTS.
NOW IN RECENT YEARS, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS MOST RENTAL PROJECTS ARE OPTING INTO THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY CAN GET THE DENSITY BONUS.
AND SO VIRTUALLY ALL 5 PLUS UNIT, MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS ARE ALSO PROVIDING THOSE ONSITE UNITS.
IT'S... IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF LIKE GUARANTEES WE CAN HAVE TO SAY X NUMBER OF UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE AT THIS OR THAT LEVEL, THERE'S REALLY TWO WAYS THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO DO THAT.
ONE IS THROUGH THESE INCLUSIONARY ZONING REQUIREMENTS WHERE WE HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS RECORDED ON THOSE SPECIFIC UNITS OR IF WE SUBSIDIZE PROJECTS AND WE'VE TAKEN THAT APPROACH MANY TIMES IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE TO DO SO, WHERE WE HAVE THESE SPECIAL HOUSING FUNDS AND WE MAKE LOANS TO HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP SUBSIDIZED 100% AFFORDABLE LOWER INCOME PROJECTS.
SO WE HAVE THOSE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX.
THE ZONING ITSELF AND THE SORT OF AFFORDABLE BY-DESIGN, SORT OF DYNAMIC THAT YOU DESCRIBED, IT IS IMPORTANT IN THE SENSE OF, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE BOARD WISHES TO MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL, THERE'S A CERTAIN PHASE OF THIS HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE THAT WE NEED TO GET THROUGH TO AVOID BEING DE-CERTIFIED, AND THAT PHASE IS THIS REZONING ACTION.
WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED A LOT OF IT BY ADOPTING THE HOUSING ELEMENT, BUT WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO THIS REZONING, WE DON'T HAVE TO PLAN PROJECTS AT THIS STAGE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ANY KIND OF NEGOTIATIONS OR FUND ANY PROJECTS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS GET THIS ZONING ENACTED AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT AS, AND I'M NOT SAYING I AGREE OR THAT THERE'S ANY PROOF OF THIS CONCEPT, I'M JUST SAYING THIS IS WHERE THE LAW IS, THAT IF YOU ZONE IN THIS COUNTY, IF WE ZONE PROPERTY AT 20 UNITS AN ACRE OR HIGHER DENSITIES, WE HAVE A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION UNDER THE LAW THAT THAT PROPERTY IS FEASIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR LOWER INCOME HOUSING.
AND THAT IS THE MILESTONE THAT WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH IN ORDER NOT TO BE DE-CERTIFIED AND RISK "BUILDER'S REMEDY" 2.0.
SO I KNOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT US NOT BEING DE-CERTIFIED.
AND WE ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ONCE WE GET THROUGH THIS TO THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE, WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE BUILT THERE AND HOW AFFORDABLE IS IT GOING TO BE OR IS IT A MIX, YOU KNOW, A MIXED INCOME PROJECTS WITH BOTH MARKET RATE AND AFFORDABLE.
I KNOW WE HAVE FUTURE BOARD ITEMS THAT WILL BE COMING.
WE'RE WORKING ON A NEXUS STUDY TO UPDATE THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING AND POSSIBLY CONSIDER PUTTING THOSE MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS ON RENTAL PROJECTS AS WELL.
THAT'S A- A FORTHCOMING PROJECT THAT WILL COME BEFORE YOUR BOARD PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT 8 MONTHS OR SO.
[04:55:03]
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE THING THAT'S BEFORE US IS REALLY ABOUT MAINTAINING OUR HOUSING ELEMENT CERTIFICATION AND NOT BEING AT RISK OF "BUILDER'S REMEDY" 2.0, WHICH FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHAT, HOW 2.0 DIFFERS FROM "BUILDER'S REMEDY" 1.0, IS THAT DEVELOPERS AUTOMATICALLY CAN PROPOSE PROJECTS THAT GO UP TO 3 TIMES THE ALLOWABLE DENSITY ON A SITE UNDER OUR CURRENT ZONING, PLUS 35 UNITS AN ACRE.SO FOR EXAMPLE, PROPERTIES THAT ARE ON THIS LIST THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE RESIDENTIAL URBAN MEDIUM LAND-USE CATEGORY THAT TOPS OUT AT 15 UNITS AN ACRE, 3 TIMES THAT IS 45, PLUS 35, THAT'S 80 UNITS AN ACRE THAT SOMEONE CAN PROPOSE.
THAT'S THEIR "BASE DENSITY." PLUS THEY CAN GET A DENSITY BONUS OF UP TO 100%.
AND TO DO THAT DENSITY BONUS AND EARN THAT "BUILDER'S REMEDY," ALL THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE IS 7% EXTREMELY LOW INCOME UNITS IN THE BASE DENSITY.
SO SOMEONE CAN JUST INCLUDE A TOKEN HANDFUL OF EXTREMELY LOW INCOME UNITS AND GET BASICALLY...
LIKE WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT WHATEVER THEY PROPOSE.
THAT'S "BUILDER'S REMEDY" 2.0.
"BUILDER'S REMEDY" 1.0 WAS VERY DIFFERENT.
THERE WAS NO DENSITY BONUS IN IT.
THEY HAD TO PROVIDE 20% OF THE GROSS UNITS IN THE PROJECT AS LOW INCOME, WHICH WAS A BIG BARRIER TO FEASIBILITY FOR MOST MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENTS.
SO IT WASN'T A SUPER POPULAR OPTION, BUT THE 2.0, IT'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD.
- CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? IS THAT OKAY? SO THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'RE SOME CHURCHES AND EVERYTHING ALL AROUND THAT ARE PROPOSING AND DOING BUILDING RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE PASSED BONDS TO DO WORKFORCE HOUSING.
ARE- ARE ANY OF THOSE UNITS INCLUDED IN OUR HOUSING ELEMENT? CAN WE INCLUDE ANY OF THOSE IN THE NUMBERS? - WE HAVE INCLUDED BOTH CHURCH PROPERTY AND SCHOOL PROPERTY IN THE INVENTORY, YES.
IT- IT'S NOT, UM, DEPENDENT ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S AN ACTIVE PROPOSAL.
SO, UH, THE MAJORITY OF SITES IN THE INVENTORY DO NOT REQUIRE REZONING.
AND SO YOU MAY NOT BE SEEING THEM TODAY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T NEED TO HAVE REZONING, BUT THERE ARE DEFINITELY SITES THAT ARE SCHOOL OWNED PROPERTIES AND...
- YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THOSE ARE INCLUDED SO THAT WE DON'T...
- SO I KNOW IN- IN THE PAST, SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THESE GIANT NUMBERS THAT...
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE NOW BECAUSE OF 2.0, WE REALLY CAN'T.
- WELL, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THE LAWS HAVE EVOLVED A LOT SINCE 2018, BOTH HOUSING ELEMENT LAW AND THIS "BUILDER'S REMEDY" PART OF THE LAW.
- SO HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT ANY OTHER CITIES OR COMMUNITIES BEING DECERTIFIED? [PAUSE] LIKE IF SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE PEELED BACK A LITTLE BIT.
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT'S THE RISK AND THEN I HEARD WHAT THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES COULD BE, THEY... THAT THEY'RE DIRE, BUT HA- HAVE YOU ACTUALLY HEARD LIKE IN, IN ANY OF THE...
- I HAVE SEEN SOME HEADLINES ABOUT SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN DIFFERENT REGIONS THAN US THAT ARE, UH, LATER ON IN THEIR HOUSING ELEMENT CYCLE THAT HAVE BEEN DE-CERTIFIED.
THERE ARE ALSO BEEN A LOT THAT HAVE TAKEN A LONG TIME TO GET CERTIFIED AND SO THEY'RE EXPOSED IN THE SAME WAY IF THEY'RE LATE IN BEING CERTIFIED.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS BEEN PRETTY AGGRESSIVE IN, UM, GOING AFTER COMMUNITIES.
HUNTINGTON BEACH HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT.
THERE'S A HANDFUL OF OTHER CITIES AROUND THE STATE THAT HAVE BEEN GETTING, UM, LITIGATED AGAINST WITH THESE KIND OF ISSUES.
SO ON THE UM, SEASCAPE GOLF COURSE PROPERTY, I MEAN YOU GUYS HAVE THE WHOLE PARKING LOT, LIKE THAT PARKING LOT IS FULL ALL THE TIME WITH EVENTS.
THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR PARKING THERE.
SO I KNOW THERE'S A TEENY TINY LITTLE AREA THAT THEY WERE THINKING OF BUILDING OUT, BUT I HAD ASKED BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER AREAS OF THAT.
THEY HAVE THE 158 ACRE GOLF COURSE, THERE'S OTHER AREAS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MORE CONDUCIVE TO BUILDING THAT THEY HAD WANTED IN THE PAST TO BUILD THERE.
I ASKED COULD WE GET THOSE AREAS REZONED? I WAS TOLD NO.
LIKE THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IF WE ACTUALLY NEED THE NUMBERS, WE COULD, THEY, THEY COULD ACTUALLY BE THERE INSTEAD OF SWAPPED OUT.
YOU KNOW, WE COULD SWAP OUT SOME OF THESE OTHER AREAS.
LIKE PAUL MINNIE, THERE- THERE'S NOT A...
THERE'S A ONE DRIVEWAY ON AN EASEMENT.
LIKE THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
THERE'S NO OTHER IN- INGRESS OR EGRESS THERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE PARCELS WERE CHOSEN AND THAT THEY DON'T MAKE, IN SOME CASES DON'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
- SO, UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE SEASCAPE, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS WE HAD AN APPLICATION,
[05:00:07]
A PRELIMINARY APPLICATION A FEW YEARS BACK ON THAT SITE AND WHAT THE REZONING THAT WE'VE PROPOSED IS COMPLETELY CONSISTENT WITH THE CONCEPT THAT THEY HAD PROPOSED, WHICH WAS TO PUT LIKE JUST A SMALL HANDFUL OF TOWN HOMES ON THE EDGE OF THAT PARKING LOT.AND THEN I THINK THEY WANTED TO PUT LIKE A LITTLE SMALL, YOU KNOW, MODEST LITTLE 8-PLEX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SORT OF NEAR THE CLUBHOUSE FOR THEIR GOLF COURSE EMPLOYEES 'CAUSE THEY WERE HAVING A HARD TIME RETAINING STAFF OF THE GOLF COURSE BECAUSE THEY DON'T EARN A LOT OF MONEY AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN APTOS, RIGHT? SO THAT WAS THEIR PROPOSAL AND WHAT WE...
THE REZONING WE'RE PROPOSING IS ESSENTIALLY WOULD ACCOMMODATE THAT KIND OF PROPOSAL.
NOBODY IS SAYING THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF THE GOLF COURSE.
THEY COULD PUT HOUSING ABOVE, THEY COULD PUT HOUSING ON THE EDGE.
NOBODY IS REQUIRING THEM TO DO ANY DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S SIMPLY THE REZONING THAT WILL KEEP OUR HOUSING ELEMENT CERTIFIED.
NONE OF THESE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE TO DEVELOP ANYTHING ON THEIR PROPERTY IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.
- SO IF THERE'S- IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I, I WILL LOOK TO MY, UH, COLLEAGUES FROM D1, D2 FOR DIRECTION OR COMPROMISE ON THIS.
- OKAY, WELL, I'LL MOVE THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PROPERTIES AT UH, 3161, 3165 PRATHER LANE BE REMOVED AND 2507 PAUL MINNIE BE REMOVED AND DIRECTING THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY REPLACEMENT PROPERTIES IF NEEDED, TO SATISFY, UH, THE HCD, AND ALSO EXTENDING THE MINISTERIAL OVERLAY TO 664 CLUBHOUSE DRIVE, SO THAT BOTH OF THE PROPERTIES UNDER CONSIDERATION AT CLUBHOUSE ARE- ARE INCLUDED IN THE MINISTERIAL OVERLAY.
- CAN I MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THAT? - PLEASE.
- I'D LIKE TO ALSO REMOVE 235 PRIMROSE LANE PARCELS NUMBER 05004135 AND 05004136.
- IS THAT B-, B41, B42 YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? OKAY.
- ASK FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION.
SO WITH THAT, THOSE PROPERTIES WILL BE ADDED AND THEN STAFF WOULD BE GOING OUT AND IDENTIFYING OTHER PROPERTIES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE- THE HOUSING ELEMENT.
- ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM SUPERVISOR KOENIG AND A SECOND FROM SUPER-, UH, WITH THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FROM SUPERVISOR DE SERPA.
- CHAIR, CAN I JUST, CAN I JUST ASK BEFORE YOU CALL THE VOTE? - YES.
- IF STAFF UNDERSTAND SUFFICIENTLY WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, BECAUSE WE NEED TO CHANGE BOTH THE ORDINANCE AND THE RESOLUTION AS PART OF THIS MOTION.
AND I, I, I WANNA DETERMINE WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA NEED TO COME BACK FOR FIRST READ OR WHETHER THEY FEEL LIKE WE CAN PUT IT ON FOR SECOND READ AT THE NEXT MEETING.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR STAFF, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE ENOUGH CLARITY, OR DO YOU WANT TO BRING IT BACK FOR A FIRST READ? - COULD I ASK, UM, UH, SUPERVISOR DE SERPA, COULD YOU SAY THE, THE SITES HAVE NUMBERING IN THE TABLES, COULD YOU JUST READ, I THINK IT'S B41 OR, OR A [CROSSTALK].
- IS, IS THAT CORRECT? - SO WE, I THINK SHE WANTS TO KEEP THE ONES THAT HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO GREEN VALLEY ROAD.
- AND THE ONE THAT HAS AN ACCESS POINT, BUT THERE'S OTHER ONES THAT DON'T.
- YEAH, THE PARCEL NUMBER ENDED, ONE ENDED IN 35, AND THE OTHER 36, THAT, AND THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT...
- SO FOR THE RECORD, THAT WOULD BE SITE ID B41 AND B42.
IS THAT CORRECT? - CORRECT. - CORRECT.
- AND, AND IT'S TO REMOVE THOSE FROM THE...
IN TERMS OF THE TIMING QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW IF STEPHANIE IS IN THE ROOM.
[LAUGH] - WHAT [INAUDIBLE]? - THE QUESTION IS, CAN WE BRING IT BACK FOR A FIRST READ WITH THESE CHANGES? - WE'VE REQUESTED SECOND READ ON MAY 20, AND WE CAN DO THAT.
- SECOND READ ON MAY 20TH, OKAY.
- WE THOUGHT MAY 6TH WAS TOO [INAUDIBLE] WORK.
- ... ON THE PARCELS AND, AND WE CAN MAKE THAT CHANGE.
- CLERK, WE HAVE, YOU HAVE THE MOTION? [INAUDIBLE] - FOR THE RECORD, UM, WITH THE B41 AND B42, IS THERE A SIMILAR SITE ID THAT WE CAN INCLUDE IN THE, THE RECORD FOR THE OTHER LISTED PARCELS? YOU HAVE THE STREET ADDRESS? OKAY.
- AND CAN I JUST ASK A POINT OF CLARIFICATION?
[05:05:04]
THIS MOTION WON'T JEOPARDIZE OUR CERTIFICATION OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT IF WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE TIMELINE PROPOSED, IS THAT CORRECT? - I DON'T THINK WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT.- YEAH, THERE, THERE'S A RISK.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A, THERE'S A RISK THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED DURING THIS HEARING ON DECERTIFICATION OF OUR HOUSING ELEMENT RESULTING FROM THESE ACTIONS.
- I DO HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH.
SO WHEN THIS COMES BACK FOR FIRST READ ON THE 20TH, ARE WE GONNA HAVE THOSE, THE, THE ALTERNATIVE PARCELS BROUGHT BACK AS WELL? AND IF NOT, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE.
WE, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO NOTICE AND, AND DO THE RESEARCH THAT QUICKLY IN ORDER TO, TO MEET THE DEADLINES FOR MEETING THE TIME, THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING THE SECOND READING PACKET.
- [INAUDIBLE] - CHAIR, IF I MAY.
[PAUSE] WE WOULD DO SOME MATH, FIGURE OUT HOW MANY UNITS WE'RE MISSING.
WE'D MONITOR OUR DEVELOPMENT IN THE PIPELINE FOR A LITTLE BIT TO SEE IF WE EVEN NEED TO REZONE OTHER PARCELS.
IN THAT CASE, WE WOULD RETURN TO YOU BEFORE DECEMBER OF '26 AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
- AND, AND I WANNA JUST CLARIFY THAT THE POINT OF, I'D LIKE TO INCLUDE WHATEVER DIRECTION IS NEEDED IN THE MOTION.
AND I'VE, I'VE ATTEMPTED TO DO THAT BY SAYING THAT IF WE DO NEED TO REZONE NEW PARCELS, STAFF WILL PROCEED WITH IDENTIFYING THEM AND BRINGING THEM BACK TO THE BOARD PRECISELY TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH HCD THAT, "HEY, LOOK, WE LOOKED AT THESE SITES.
SECOND, THIRD TIME REALIZED WE DIDN'T WANT TO INCLUDE THESE, BUT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO IDENTIFY OTHERS." - I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WE WOULD, WE WOULD BE IN CONTACT ONCE WE FIGURE OUT A PLAN WITH HCD.
- IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM SUPERVISOR KOENIG AND A SECOND WITH THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FROM SUPERVISOR DE SERPA.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT ON THE AGENDA ITEM IS NUMBER 8.
[8. Hold public hearing to consider, accept and file the County's Fiscal Year 2025-26 Proposed Budget, and continue the budget public hearing to June 3, 2025]
HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AND ACCEPT AND FILE THE COUNTY'S FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026, PROPOSED BUDGET, AND CONTINUE THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING TO JUNE 3RD, 2025.I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CAO CARLOS PALACIOS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
CHAIR HERNANDEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, TODAY WE ARE INTRODUCING THE FY 2025/'26 BUDGET.
THE ACTION TODAY IS JUST TO ACCEPT AND FILE THE BUDGET.
IT'S NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON THE ACTUAL BUDGET, ALTHOUGH, UM, WE BROUGHT IT TO YOU IN A, UM, STUDY SESSION TYPE FORMAT SO THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU A THOROUGH PRESENTATION AS WELL AS GET ANY FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS WHEN WE GO TO, ACTUAL BUDGET HEARINGS IN JUNE.
NOW, THIS IS A CHANGE FROM OUR PROCESS IN THE PAST.
UH, MANY YEARS AGO, WE JUST USED TO COME, AND THIS WAS ON CONSENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, UH, SUPERVISOR KOENIG.
IT WAS ON CONSENT WHEN THE BUDGET WAS INTRODUCED, AND WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY FEEDBACK UNTIL WE ACTUALLY GOT TO BUDGET HEARINGS IN JUNE.
SO WE'VE CHANGED, BASED ON YOUR FEEDBACK, WE'VE CHANGED THE, THE PROCESS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GIVING YOU A PRESENTATION TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK, YOU KNOW, ASK FOR ANY FEEDBACK YOU MIGHT HAVE OR ADDITIONAL RESEARCH OR QUESTIONS.
AND THEN WE ARE ALSO GONNA COME ON MAY 20, WITH AN UPDATE FROM THE MAY REVISE.
ALSO, GET ANY FEEDBACK YOU HAVE AT THAT POINT, AND THEN WE'LL START BUDGET HEARINGS ON JUNE 3RD.
HAVING SAID THAT, LET ME START BY TELLING YOU THAT THIS IS REALLY A VERY VERY DIFFICULT TIME WE ARE IN, THE COUNTY, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE COUNTRY.
I HAVE BEEN IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT NOW FOR 38 YEARS, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER HAD SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY AND CHAOS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
IN FACT, I CAN SAY WE NEVER HAVE.
SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THREATS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW.
AND I WANTED TO POINT OUT, JUST TO SUMMARIZE SOME OF THOSE.
THERE ARE THREATS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO OUR SAFETY NET PROGRAMS, MOST ESPECIALLY TO MEDI-CAL.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS FLOATED IDEAS OF MAJOR CUTS TO MEDI-CAL.
THEY ARE DOING A BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILL, WHICH THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO PASS THIS SUMMER, WHICH COULD HAVE, WHICH COULD HAVE MAJOR REDUCTIONS IN MEDI-CAL AND OTHER SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. SECOND, THERE ARE THREATS TO OTHER FEDERAL GRANTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE, WE'VE ALREADY HAD
[05:10:01]
SOME INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS CANCELED, SOME PUBLIC HEALTH GRANTS CANCELED WITH BARELY ANY NOTICE, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE GRANT AGREEMENTS, SIGNED GRANT AGREEMENTS, THEY NEVERTHELESS, UNILATERALLY HAVE JUST CANCELED A FEW GRANTS ALREADY.THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION JUST SENT US A MEMO THAT WAS THREATENING FUTURE GRANT FUNDING, BASED ON PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER COMPLIANCE.
THERE'S ALSO A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WAS SIGNED YESTERDAY ABOUT, UH, SANCTUARY CITIES AND COUNTIES, AND THREATENING FEDERAL FUNDING TO THOSE AGENCIES.
SO ANYWAY, THAT IS ANOTHER THREAT.
THE, THE OTHER THREAT, THIRD THREAT IS TO FEMA.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A VERY SLOW RESPONSE IN GETTING, UH, REIMBURSEMENTS TO THE COSTS WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT IN RESPONDING TO DISASTERS.
FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS GOING BACK TO 2017.
AND WE HAVE ALMOST $90 MILLION STILL OUTSTANDING IN FEMA THAT HAS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED.
AND THERE ARE THREATS TO, UH, FEMA.
HAVE YOU, AS YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN, THERE HAS BEEN AN IDEA FLOATED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO GET RID OF FEMA COMPLETELY.
THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER IDEA THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE THE BAR FOR WHAT IS ACTUALLY QUALIFIES AS A FEDERAL DECLARATION THAT WOULD ELIMINATE MANY DISASTERS FROM EVEN QUALIFYING FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.
AND THEN THE FOURTH THREAT IS TO OUR ECONOMY.
NOW THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ENGAGED IN THIS TARIFF WAR, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR DUE TO THESE TARIFF POLICIES.
THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT OUR STATE GOVERNMENT IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN TRADE, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY ENGAGED AS A STATE IN A, UM, IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE TARIFF POLICIES.
THERE'RE ALL, THERE'S A VERY, UH, CREDIBLE THREAT OF A RECESSION.
SO THAT IS DUE, UH, TO THESE TARIFF POLICIES.
AND THE GOVERNOR'S MAY REVISE IS ALSO THREATENING MAJOR CUTS BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND THE THREAT OF A NATIONAL RECESSION.
SO, I WILL, I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE FACING THESE THREATS, AND THEY'RE ALL SELF-INFLICTED.
THEY'RE ALL DONE BY OUR OWN FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.
IT'S PRETTY UNPRECEDENTED TO BE IN THIS POSITION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, ABSENT THOSE THREATS, WE WOULD STILL HAVE SOME BUDGET ISSUES, BUT OVERALL, WE WOULD BE OKAY, AND WE'D HAVE A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DEAL WITH OUR ISSUES.
WHAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO IS BE VERY CONSERVATIVE AND TAKE PRETTY STRONG ACTIONS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE FUTURE CUTS COMING FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NICOLE COBURN, AND MARCUS PIMENTEL, OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR.
- GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'M NICOLE COBURN, ASSISTANT CEO, TOGETHER WITH MARCUS PIMENTEL AND RYAN FRIEDRICH FROM OUR OFFICE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING TO YOU ON THE BUDGET TODAY.
[PAUSE] SO, A FEW OF OUR GOALS AS SHOWN HERE.
WE WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES WE FACE AS A COUNTY AS CEO PALACIO'S ALREADY STATED.
WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR STATE AND FEDERAL RISKS.
WE ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE COUNTY ACHIEVEMENTS.
WE HAVE MANY OVER THE PAST YEAR AND IN, IN RECENT YEARS.
AND THEN MARCUS IS GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.
AT THE END, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
SO I, I WON'T GO INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL.
CARLOS HAD MENTIONED SOME OF THE, THE HEADWINDS WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF REDUCED HEALTHCARE FUNDING, DELAYED DISASTER REIMBURSEMENTS, STATE BUDGET UNCERTAINTY, FROM THE LARGER ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY THAT WE'RE FACING, AND JUST ALL THE SHIFTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON DC AND THE RISK OF FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE KNOW OF, AND THAT MIGHT BE COMING.
WE'VE ALREADY FACED THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL HEALTH GRANTS THAT HAVE GONE AWAY, THAT HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM OUR COUNTY.
THIS IS MORE THAN $400,000 IN FUNDING, WHICH AFFECTED 5.7 FTE POSITIONS IN THE HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY.
I WILL NOTE THAT HSA PIVOTED EXTREMELY QUICKLY.
THEY HAVE, UM, A STRUCTURE SET UP TO RESPOND TO WHAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SHIFT THOSE POSITIONS TO OTHER GRANT FUNDS AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS SO THAT WE COULD SAVE THOSE POSITIONS.
THE SPEED AND BREADTH AT WHICH FEDERAL FUNDING IS BEING THREATENING IS REALLY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SHIFT.
BUT LUCKILY WE HAVE, UH, STAFF WHO ARE ADEPT AT THIS AND, UM, WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO RESPOND TO ANYTHING RECEIVED IN THE FUTURE.
[05:15:02]
SO WITH THIS IN MIND, WE'VE BROUGHT FORWARD A REDUCED BUDGET PLAN TO YOU THAT DOES NOT REF- YET REFLECT ANY FEDERAL REDUCTIONS FROM THE CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN WASHINGTON DC.WE HAVE THE MAY REVISE COMING OUT NEXT MONTH, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS THAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE OVER THE SUMMER.
AND SO WE EXPECT TO BE RETURNING TO YOUR BOARD OVER THE SUMMER AND MAYBE EVEN IN THE FALL WITH FURTHER BUDGET CHANGES.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE BUDGET FOR YOU BEFORE WE GET INTO THE DETAILS.
THIS IS A $1.23 BILLION BUDGET.
THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OVER $800,000 OR $800 MILLION.
WE HAVE A REDUCTION IN STAFFING OF 74.4 FTE POSITIONS TO ABOUT 2,700 FTES.
THE LARGEST REDUCTIONS ARE IN THE HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY, WHERE THE, THE 74.4 FTE POSITIONS ARE BEING ELIMINATED.
THE HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY HAS A TOTAL BUDGET REDUCTION OF $8.98 MILLION, DUE PRIMARILY TO SHIFTS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THEIR REVENUES FROM CALAIM AND OTHER, OTHER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, UH, SERVICES.
THE HSA STAFFING REDUCTION MAY REQUIRE LAYOFFS EFFECTIVE JUNE 30TH, 2025, WHICH WE'LL BE DISCUSSING A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TERMS OF, UM, THE STAFFING REDUCTIONS THERE.
AS I NOTED, THE HSA REDUCTIONS ARE RESULTING FROM A REVENUE DECLINE OR LARGELY FROM A REVENUE DECLINE OF $11.1 MILLION IN LOWER MEDI-CAL REIMBURSEMENTS.
THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON BILLABLE ACTIVITIES UNDER CALAIM.
WE ARE ALSO SEEING SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN REVENUE FROM MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT.
AND OVERALL, WE ARE SEEING A 34% REDUCTION IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REVENUE.
PROGRAMS IN THE HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY ARE ALSO GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE.
IMD OR LOCKED CARE COSTS HAVE INCREASED OVER THE YEARS FROM $12 MILLION TO $16.2 MILLION.
OUR CHILDREN'S CRISIS CENTER PROJECT HAS A COST OF OPERATIONS OF $9.4 MILLION TO RUN ANNUALLY, AND WE'RE EXPECTING REIMBURSEMENTS OF ONLY UP TO $4.3 MILLION.
SO THE NET COST OF OVER $5 MILLION IS SOMETHING THAT THE GENERAL FUND IS HAVING TO PICK UP.
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN THE HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY ARE ALSO GOING UP BETWEEN SERVICES, SUPPLIES, LABOR, UTILITIES, PHONES, AND ALL OF THAT.
SO THERE ARE JUST, WE'RE SEEING INCREASED COSTS OVERALL.
THE REDUCTIONS ACROSS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, HEALTH SERVICES AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISIONS ARE INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON OUR MANDATED SERVICES, THAT GRANT REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET AND THAT PATIENT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY IS PRESERVED.
[PAUSE] IN ADDITION, I'LL NOTE THAT DESPITE OUR NUMEROUS CHALLENGES, WE WERE ABLE TO FUND THE GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY AT $6.9 MILLION.
THIS IS A REDUCTION OF 1.2 MILLION LESS THAN WHERE WE WANNA BE AT OUR 1% CONTINGENCY.
HOWEVER, THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST YEAR.
WHEN WE WERE HERE BEFORE YOU LAST YEAR, WE HAD NOTHING BUDGETED IN GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY.
THE BUDGET ALSO MAINTAINS GENERAL FUND RESERVES AT $98.1 MILLION.
THIS REMAINS BELOW OUR PEER AVERAGE AT 28.1%.
WE'RE IN COMPARISON, WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 12.7%.
LASTLY, I WANNA NOTE THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET ASSUMES $6.6 MILLION IN ANTICIPATED FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS.
THESE ARE GONNA BE USED TO SERVE AND REDUCE OUR 2024 DISASTER-RELATED DEBT.
[PAUSE] AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CALIFORNIA FLOWS THROUGH THE STATE BUDGET.
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED STATE BUDGET INCLUDES MORE THAN $170 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS.
THIS IS OVER ONE THIRD OF THE TOTAL STATE BUDGET.
THE LARGEST PROGRAM FUNDED IS MEDI-CAL.
[PAUSE] THE COUNTIES ALSO RECEIVES A LARGE AMOUNT OF STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING.
AND MUCH OF THE STATE FUNDING IS, UM, FEDERAL PASS THROUGH REVENUES.
THE TOTAL COUNTY BUDGET IS ABOUT 40% FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING, AND THIS PERCENTAGE INCREASES TO 57% WHEN YOU'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY RELIES ON THIS FEDERAL FUNDING AND STATE FUNDING TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, SUPPORT OUR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE.
[05:20:03]
SO, AS CARLOS MENTIONED, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING SOME REAL IMPACTS FROM FEDERAL POLICY CHANGES AND THE RISK TO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY IS SIGNIFICANT.THE COUNTY HAS FORMED AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL FEDERAL POLICY RESPONSE TEAM.
WE'RE WORKING ON RESPONDING TO THESE CHANGES, AND WE'RE WORKING IN 5 DIFFERENT AREAS.
WE HAVE STAFF WORKING ON DATA COLLECTION AND IMPACT ANALYSIS, A LEGAL REVIEW AND ANALYSIS, FISCAL IMPACTS AND RESILIENCE, COMMUNITY PARTNERS ENGAGEMENT, AND FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY.
THE OTHER ASSISTANT, CEO ELISSA BENSON IS HEADING UP THIS TEAM.
THE TEAM SO FAR HAS BEEN WORKING ON IDENTIFYING FEDERAL GRANTS THAT COULD BE AT RISK, AND WE HAVE NOTIFIED, WE'VE BEEN NOTIFIED OF SEVERAL FUNDING LOSSES AS SHOWN HERE.
THE, THE AREAS WITH THE BIGGEST HITS SO FAR ARE IN THE BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY GRANT FROM FEMA.
WE ARE STILL GETTING OUR PHASE 1 GRANT FUNDING, WHICH IS THE PLANNING FUNDING, BUT OUR PHASE 2 BRICK FUNDING HAS BEEN ELIMINATED AS OF RIGHT NOW, WHICH WAS $20 MILLION TO WORK ON WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION IN SIX DIFFERENT AREAS AROUND THE COUNTY.
WE ALSO HAD THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES GRANTS THAT WERE ELIMINATED, UH, THAT AFFECTED OVER $400,000 AND 5.7 FTES THAT WE SAVED.
[PAUSE] THE FEDERAL POLICY CHANGES HAVE SOME REAL, UM, POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE ABOUT 90,000 OF OUR, UM, RESIDENTS ON MEDI-CAL CURRENTLY, AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING, 1 IN 3 OR 30,000 OF THOSE COULD BE IMPACTED BY MEDI-CAL CHANGES, FROM WORK REQUIREMENTS OR OTHER CHANGES.
WE ALSO HAVE, UH, A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS RECEIVING CALFRESH FOOD ASSISTANCE AND CALWORKS' CACHE.
SO REAL IMPACTS THAT WE COULD SEE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
[PAUSE] LASTLY, REGARDING FEDERAL AND STATE IMPACTS, I WANNA NOTE THAT WE HAVE ALMOST $90 MILLION OF FEDERAL DISASTER CLAIMS THAT ARE STILL PENDING REIMBURSEMENT FROM FHWA AND FEMA.
OUR 2024 DISASTER FINANCING PLAN INCLUDED A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE LAST YEAR OF US COLLECTING 43 MILLION BY FISCAL YEAR 2029/2030, WITH $12 MILLION IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR.
NEW FEDERAL DELAYS OR REJECTION COULD PUSH UP OUR ANNUAL DEBT COSTS, WHICH ON AVE- WHICH ARE ON AVERAGE, UM, WOULD BE ABOUT $4.2 MILLION.
AS AN EXAMPLE, IT WOULD INCREASE BY 400% OR $1.5 MILLION OF 2025/2026 DEBT COST.
[PAUSE] SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COUNTY BEFORE WE GET INTO THE BUDGET, JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER, THE COUNTY, AS YOU KNOW, PROVIDES A BROAD SPECTRUM OF COUNTYWIDE AND UNINCORPORATED AREA SERVICES.
THESE ARE PAID FROM A COMBINATION OF USER FEES AND LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL TAXES AND FUNDS.
OUR SERVICES ARE GENERALLY CATEGORIZED IN 3 BASIC AREAS.
THOSE MANDATED SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.
THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES DELIVERED TO OUR UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
THESE INCLUDE FIRE PROTECTION, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PLANNING, ROAD MAINTENANCE, PARKS, GARBAGE AND SEWER, UTILITIES AND THEN THE BLEND OF MANDATED AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES THAT EXTEND INTO CITIES WHICH INCLUDE ELECTIONS, PROPERTY ASSESSMENT, COURTS, PROBATION, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
WE LIKE TO CALL THE COUNTY THE BIGGEST CITY IN THE COUNTY BASED ON POPULATION SERVED.
AND, UM, THUS OUR, OUR MONEY IS STRETCHED FURTHER BECAUSE WE, WE SERVE A GREAT, A GREAT DEAL OF THE COUNTY.
[PAUSE] WE ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WE ARE THE LOWEST PER CAPITA FUNDED COUNTY IN THE STATE, OR ONE OF THE LOWEST PER CAPITA, AND ALSO SERVE A GREATER PORTION OF THE POPULATION.
YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THIS SLIDE, AS WE'VE SHOWN YOU BEFORE, JUST WHERE WE COMPARE TO OUR PEERS AND, UM, WE ARE ON THE LOW END OF THE SCALE ON THE FAR RIGHT IN THAT OUTLIER.
[PAUSE] THIS IS A NEW, UM, GRAPH THAT WE INCLUDED IN OUR ECONOMIC OUTLOOK SECTION THAT'S SHOWN ONLINE, WHICH PROVIDES A NUMBER OF RE-, NATIONAL, STATE, AND REGIONAL INDICATORS OF HOW WE'RE DOING AS A COUNTY, BOTH IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMY AND OUR COMMUNITY.
AS ILLUSTRATED IN THIS CHART, SINCE 2020 COUNTY POPULATION HAS DECLINED BY MORE THAN 8,700 PEOPLE, WITH THE STEEPEST SINGLE YEAR DROP OVER 8,100 RESIDENTS OCCURRING IN 2021, WHICH WAS, WHEN WE WERE IN, IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID-19.
SO THIS DECLINE HAS DRIVEN, BEEN DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY
[05:25:03]
NET OUT MIGRATION AS RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SEEKING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR RELOCATED TO MORE TO, DUE TO MORE REMOTE WORK FLEXIBILITY.SOME OF THE PATTERNS OF THIS, UM, ARE DUE TO WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE ONGOING AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES, AND THEY SIGNAL POTENTIAL SHIFTS IN TAX REVENUE, SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING.
[PAUSE] HERE WE ARE TRACKING NEW APARTMENT CONSTRUCTION ALONGSIDE ANNUAL CHANGE IN RENT TO ILLUSTRATE HOUSING SUPPLY AND AFFORDABILITY PRESSURES.
THIS SLIDE IS SHOWING DATA FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE UNINCORPORATED AREA IN OUR CITIES.
IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY RENT SURGED IN 2021 AND EARLY 2022.
WE HAD 3 CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS OF ANNUAL GROWTH ABOVE 8%.
WHILE NEW DELIVERIES REMAINS LIMITED.
SINCE EARLY 2024, 594 NEW UNITS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO THE MARKET, REFLECTING PROJECTS INITIATED DURING THE POST-COVID LOW INTEREST RATE PERIOD.
THIS LAG BETWEEN RENT SPIKES AND SUPPLY UNDERSCORES JUST HOW DELAYED DEVELOPMENT CAN EXACERBATE AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF STREAMLINING HOUSING PRODUCTION.
[PAUSE] SO BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO MARCUS, I WANNA NOTE HERE AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY, THE COUNTY'S HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF ACHIEVEMENTS.
IN OUR COUNTY BUDGET, WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED 277 KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN ADDITION TO COMPLETING 70 MAJOR OPERATIONAL PLAN OBJECTIVES.
WE HAVE A NEW, UM, ELEMENT IN OUR ONLINE BUDGET THAT WE'LL ALSO, UM, WE'LL HIGHLIGHT IN OUR PDF THAT WE'LL BE PROVIDING TO THE BOARD, THAT, UM, SHOWS THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE COUNTY'S PROGRESS ON OUR OPERATIONAL PLAN OBJECTIVES.
I'D LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT THE LAUNCH OF OUR 24/7 MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM, THE COMPLETION OF OUR MEASURE S LIBRARIES AND DNA LABORATORY AND EXPANDED SERVICES IN SOUTH COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, AMONG OUR MANY ACHIEVEMENTS THIS PAST YEAR.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TRANSITION TO MARCUS, WHO'S GONNA START TO TALK ABOUT OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.
I RECOGNIZE, WE ALL RECOGNIZE THIS HAS BEEN A LONG DAY AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
WE WANNA RECOGNIZE WHAT THE CEO PALACIOS OFFERED IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS SESSION IS THIS USED TO BE ON CONSENT.
THIS USED TO BE A DAY WHERE IT WAS JUST IN THE PACKET, YOU KNOW, 500, 600, 700 PAGES IN THE PACKET, AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT IT A MONTH AND A HALF LATER.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS A, A DIFFERENT RHYTHM OF PRESENTING THE BUDGET EARLIER IN A FORMAL PRESENTATION THAT ALLOWS THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD TO FEEL ABLE TO DIGEST IT, HEAR THE SUMMARIES.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OVER THE COURSE OF THE COMING MONTH AND A HALF, PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND COMMENT ON THAT.
SO WITHIN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, AS NICOLE MENTIONED, OUR TOTAL BUDGET IS A $1.23 BILLION BUDGET, AND THAT SOUNDS LARGE.
IT'S 176 MILLION LESS THAN LAST YEAR'S, CURRENT YEAR'S ADOPTED BUDGET, SO, OUR PROPOSED BUDGET IS LESS THAN THE CURRENT YEAR'S ADOPTED BUDGET.
SOME OF THAT HAS TIMING, WHERE WE HAVE ABOUT $70 MILLION IN CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WILL BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET IN, IN THE, IN THIS, IN SEPTEMBER.
BUT SOME OF IT IS JUST REDUCTIONS.
LAST YEAR WE HAD THINGS LIKE THIS SUCCESS OF COLLECTING FEMA, IRONICALLY, ADVANCED REIMBURSEMENT FROM FEMA FROM COVID.
YOU MIGHT RECALL WE HAD A, A STRONG ADVOCACY PRO-, PROGRAM FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
WE ARE OWED MILLIONS IN BACK, UM, PAYMENTS FOR COVID REIMBURSEMENTS.
AND THAT FINALLY CAME THROUGH LAST YEAR AND WE RECEIVED $30 MILLION MORE THAN EXPECTED LAST YEAR.
AND THAT WAS A BIG BONUS TO US.
SO THAT'S, THAT WAS A ONE-TIME RECEIPT THAT ISN'T IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE HAVE REDUCTIONS ACROSS THE GENERAL FUND HIGHLIGHTED BY WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHERE THERE'RE MAJOR STAFFING REDUCTIONS AND PROGRAM REDUCTION.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE PROPOSING A, A BALANCED YET LESS THAN GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
ONE THAT WE PROBABLY DIDN'T EXPECT TO DO A YEAR AGO.
WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE WHERE THIS WAS COMING.
AND AS CEO PALACIOS MENTIONED, I THINK WERE THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND FEDERAL CLIMATE DIFFERENT, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT THIS LEVEL OF REDUCTIONS THAT WE ARE, CONTAINED HERE TODAY.
THIS, THIS IS NOTHING WE WANTED TO SEE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE MUST DO AND, AND TO SUSTAIN OURSELVES FINANCIALLY FOR A BALANCED OPERATING BUDGET AND PRIORITIZING OUR DELIVERY MANDATED SERVICES.
[PAUSE] I FORGOT TO START THE SLIDE.
SO, UH, 176 DECREASE FROM THE ADOPTED BUDGET.
THE BUDGET IS ALLOCATED ABOUT A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF TO SALARY AND BENEFITS.
A LARGE PORTION GOES TO SERVICES AND SUPPLIES.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SERVICES AND SUPPLIES, IT'S NOT JUST DIRECTLY CONTRACTORS.
WE HAVE PARTNERS WHO HELP US DELIVER SERVICES,
[05:30:03]
PARTICULARLY IN THE HEALTH, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENTS WHO WE RELY ON FOR DELIVERY OF SERVICES.[PAUSE] WITHIN THE REDUCTIONS CONTAINED IN DETAIL ON THE BUDGET, WE HAVE 74.4 REDUCTION IN TOTAL STAFFING.
YOU'RE GONNA HEAR THAT EXACT SAME NUMBER WHEN I TALK ABOUT HEALTH.
THERE'S 74.4 REDUCED IN THE BUDGET IN HEALTH.
THERE'S ALSO A REDUCTION OF TWO POSITIONS IN CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES.
THEY'RE ALSO GETTING HIT BY THE STATE BUDGET CUTS THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET.
SO WE HAVE 76 BEING REDUCED AND TWO ADDITIONS COMING INTO THE BUDGET.
ONE IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THAT'S MEANT TO BE A TEMPORARILY INCREASE.
THERE'LL LIKELY BE AN OFFSET COMING IN THE MIDYEAR, SO WE DON'T EXPECT ACTUAL GROWTH TO BE IN THE BOARD BUDGET.
AND THERE'S ONE ADDITION IN THE SHERIFF CORONER'S BUDGET FOR THE DNA LAB.
THAT WAS A LONG TIME PLAN TO, TO BUILD UP OUR DNA LAB SO WE CAN GET THROUGH THE BACKLOG AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
[PAUSE] WHAT, WHAT, I WANNA JUST REITERATE THAT NICOLE MENTIONED, THIS REDUCTION LIST WOULD'VE BEEN BIGGER.
WE ALREADY FACED 5.7 IN DIRECT CUTS FROM THE FEDS THIS YEAR, AND WE WERE ABLE TO, TO RETAIN THOSE 5.7 WITH SOME, SOME BUDGETARY SOLUTIONS.
THERE WERE ANOTHER 10 THAT WERE SLATED FOR REDUCTION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FUND USING INTERNAL COUNTY RESOURCES WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO WE EFFECTIVELY SAVED 15.7 POSITIONS THAT WOULD'VE BEEN ON THIS LIST.
WE'VE DONE OUR BEST TO TRY TO REDUCE THAT LIST, AND I KNOW PERSONNEL IS DOING THEIR BEST TO TRY TO REDUCE EXPOSURE OF LAYOFFS.
[PAUSE] DIVING A LITTLE BIT FROM THE COUNTY'S 1.23 BILLION BUDGET INTO THE GENERAL FUND, THE GENERAL FUND'S A $793 MILLION BUDGET.
IT'S LARGELY FUNDED THROUGH, UM, DIRECT REVENUES CHARGES BY DEPARTMENTS.
THINK OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THEIR FEES THAT THEY CHARGE, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, PARTICULARLY HEALTH SERVICES IN THEIR MEDI-CAL AND, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHARGES.
THERE IS A PORTION OF TAX-FUNDED AND SOME OTHER REVENUES THAT ARE RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY, AND WE CALL THOSE OUR GENERAL, GENERALLY AVAILABLE REVENUES, ABLE TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
IN TOTAL, WE HAVE $223 MILLION AVAILABLE AS A GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION, AND PART OF THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION, THERE'S $21.4 MILLION IN SALES TAX THAT THE VOTERS HAVE RECENTLY APPROVED, KNOWN AS MEASURE G AND MEASURE K.
SO THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE FLEXIBLE.
SO YOU THINK OF A $1.2 BILLION BUDGET AND YOU GET DOWN TO $240 MILLION OF REALLY FLEXIBLE FUNDING.
AND THAT FLEXIBLE FUNDING GOES TO SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY WHO DON'T HAVE A LOT OF REVENUE GENERATION AND ARE THERE PROVIDING SERVICES.
IT GOES TO SUPPORT OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENTS TO THE TUNE OF 30... NORTH OF $30 MILLION.
SO WE, WE, WE LEVERAGE THAT GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION TO MAINTAIN SERVICES WHERE WE CAN AND THIS IS JUST A YEAR WHERE WE'RE REALLY LIMITED TO TRY TO, UM, MAINTAIN EVERYTHING.
[PAUSE] NOW, AS FAR AS OUR REVENUES...
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION.
WITHIN THAT, UH, MOST OF IT IS, IS TAXES.
SO WE HAVE OUR PROPERTY TAXES JUST A LITTLE UNDER $100 MILLION.
A COMPONENT OF PROPERTY TAXES USED TO BE CALLED VEHICLE LICENSE FEES.
OUR SALES TAX HAS GONE UP TO ABOUT JUST OVER $30 MILLION.
AND THAT INCLUDES OUR BASE 1% ALLOCATION OF 13 MILLION AND THEN $20 MILLION IN THE MEASURE G AND MEASURE K AMOUNTS.
OUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY, THAT'S OUR FEDERAL AND STATE REVENUE.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY JUST CALL IT THAT.
IN THE GENERAL FUND, NEARLY 60%, 57% OF THE GENERAL FUND IS SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL AND STATE REVENUE.
UNLIKE CITIES, WE ARE VERY MUCH DEPENDENT ON FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING STREAMS. AND WHEN THOSE AREN'T THERE, IT'S AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT TO US.
[PAUSE] WITHIN OUR BUDGET, WE'VE TRIED TO PROJECT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT MORE IN THE MIDYEAR REPORT ABOUT OUR FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS.
IN THIS CURRENT BOARD REPORT, THERE'S A SECTION THAT TALKS ABOUT ALL OF OUR ASSUMPTIONS AND OUR PROJECTIONS.
WE BELIEVE WE'RE PROJECTING A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN CONSERVATIVE, MORE CREDIBLE FORECAST.
IN ALL OF OUR REVENUE STREAMS, WE'RE PROJECTING PROPERTY TAX GROWTH OF 3, 4 OR 5% SALES TAX.
WE'RE HAVING TO PULL BACK AND WE MAY END UP NEEDING TO PULL BACK MORE.
WE BROUGHT, I THINK A YEAR AGO, OUR FORECAST FOR NEXT YEAR WAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 3%.
WE BROUGHT THAT DOWN TO 2% GROWTH, AND THAT MIGHT BE TOO PESSIMISTIC OR TOO OPTIMISTIC AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
BUT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUALLY MONITOR WHERE CONSUMERS ARE AT AND WHAT THAT SPINNING TREND'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
[PAUSE] SO FINISHING WITH JUST, AGAIN, A BROAD OVERVIEW OF A VERY LARGE BUDGET.
WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, THIS IS OUR REVISED FORECAST MODEL.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SAW IN ON FEBRUARY 25TH, IN OUR MID-YEAR REPORT.
WE'RE PROJECTING THE NEXT, UH, 3 OUT YEARS.
[05:35:03]
SO WE'VE GOT A BALANCED BUDGET FOR '25, '26, AND THE 3 OUT YEARS OF DEFICITS STARTING ABOUT 7.4 MILLION AND SLOWLY ERODING TO A BALANCED BUDGET BY '29, '29, '30.SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE GONNA BE OUR BETTER YEARS.
THIS IS ASSUMING A MODEST LEVEL OF FEDERAL THREATS, BUT NOT TO THE LEVEL THAT WE MAY BE EXPERIENCING.
SO THIS FORECAST WILL CHANGE DRAMATICALLY SHOULD THERE BE THIS, THE LEVEL OF MEDI-CAL CUTS AND OTHER CUTS TO OUR FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE'RE EXPECTING, OR WHAT THE STATE GOVERNOR RELEASES NEXT WEEK, IN THAT MAY REVISE NEXT...
THIS WEEK IS MAY, YOU KNOW, TODAY'S APRIL 29TH.
THE CALENDAR FLIPS AND THEN NEXT WEEK, THE MAY REVISE WILL LAND BY THE, PROBABLY MAY 9TH.
OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES HAVE STAYED STEADY ABOUT $98 MILLION, 12.7%, AND THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR PEERS, THERE'S A, THERE'S A MARKER THERE IN THIS CHART ABOUT WHERE OUR PEERS ARE AT, ON AVERAGE, NOT THE HIGHEST, NOT THE LOWEST.
ON AVERAGE THERE'S A 28%, UH, GENERAL FUND RESERVE AMONGST OUR PEERS.
AND THEN WHEN YOU PEEL INTO OUR PEERS, INTO OUR RESERVES, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, A BIG CHUNK OF THAT IS RESERVED FOR HEALTHCARE FUNDING.
SO IF YOU ISOLATE, PULL OUT THE HEALTHCARE FUNDING, OUR RESERVES DROP DOWN TO ABOUT $47 MILLION OR EQUIVALENT ABOUT 3 PAYROLL CYCLES.
SO WE, WE, WE SAW LAST YEAR WE EXPERIENCED THE NEED TO ISSUE, $90 MILLION IN TOTAL DEBT, $80 MILLION TO FINANCE DISASTER FUNDING.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO REPEAT THAT LEVEL OF ADVANCED FUNDING, AND WAITING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COME AND, AND PROVIDE REVENUE, EVENTUALLY.
SO OUR NEXT DISASTERS WITHOUT STRONG RESERVES ARE GONNA PUT US IN A REALLY DIFFICULT POSITION.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN OUR CONCERN FOR A WHILE.
AND, AND IT'S STARTING TO BECOME A LOT MORE REAL TO ALL OF US.
[PAUSE] FINISHED, WE'RE TURNING OVER AND TALKING ABOUT SOME NEW THINGS.
SO BEFORE RYAN TAKES OVER, NICOLE MENTIONED THIS, WE'VE, WE'VE REALLY EXPANDED THE BUDGET THIS YEAR AND I HOPE YOU GET A CHANCE AND WE'LL SPEND SOME MORE TIME IN THE, IN THE COMING SESSIONS GOING INTO IT, THERE'S A NEW SECTION ON DEBT AND OUR, OUR, OUR VARIOUS LIABILITIES, WHETHER IT BE PROPERTY AND RISK LIABILITIES TO PENSION LIABILITIES TO OUR, OUR DEBT.
THERE'S A WHOLE NEW SECTION ON THAT.
WE HAVE MORE ROBUST SECTIONS ON DEPARTMENTS THAT TALK ABOUT EMERGING ISSUES.
IT TALKS ABOUT THEIR MAJOR CHANGES, TALKS ABOUT ALL THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
AND IN, FOR THE FIRST TIME MAYBE EVER, WE COULDN'T FIND A RECORD OF THIS, WITHIN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WE HAD THE CIP PLAN.
TYPICALLY, IT SHOWED UP LONG AFTER THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED.
AND WE NOW HAVE, UM, A MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION OF OUR CIP IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IN, UH, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO RYAN FRIEDRICH WHO TOOK LEAD ON THIS AND, AND, AND TOOK A PERSONAL INTEREST IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
- WHAT IS CEP... C...? - I'M SORRY, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
- THANK YOU FOR CHECKING ME ON THAT.
- UH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE.
SO AS MENTIONED, I'M RYAN FRIEDRICH.
I'M A SENIOR ANALYST, UH, IN THE CEO'S OFFICE.
I'VE HAD THE, THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS ON CRAFTING OUR NEWEST ITERATION OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR 2025 TO 2030, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
THE CIP, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AS A KEY PLANNING DOCUMENT, IT'S, IT'S DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND BY ALIGNING OUR LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES, AND PARK NEEDS OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS.
THIS ITERATION, UM, IS A LITTLE NEW, AS MARCUS MENTIONED, IS THAT WE PUBLISHED THIS AS AN ONLINE WEBSITE.
IT'S INTERACTIVE FOR USERS TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE OUR CIP, OUR DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, AND BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES THAT SUPPORT THOSE PROJECTS, THE EXPENDITURE PLANS AND DESCRIPTION OF THOSE PROJECTS.
THIS ITERATION OF THE CIP, UH, FOCUSES ON 126 ACTIVE CAPITAL PROJECTS, UH, COUNTYWIDE.
WE FOCUS ON ACTIVE CAPITAL PROJECTS REALLY TO FOCUS THIS PLAN, COMING OUT OF THE 2022, '23 WINTER STORMS. WE DID NOT WANNA INCLUDE ANY PROJECTS THAT WERE STILL IN CONCEPTS OR FEASIBILITIES OR THINGS THAT HAD NOT YET HAD COMMITTED FUNDING.
THIS WAY WE PRESENT A FISCALLY REASONABLE AND REALISTIC PLAN FOR ONGOING PROJECTS.
THE TOTAL INVESTMENT FOR THE CIP UH, EXCEEDS OVER $396 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS, LEVERAGING OVER 45 DIFFERENT, UH, FUNDING SOURCES TO SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS.
WE DESIGNED THE CIP TO, TO BE DIVIDED REALLY INTO 3 DIFFERENT PROJECT PORTFOLIOS, ONE FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, ONE FOR PARKS AND OPEN SPACES, AND ONE FOR COUNTY FACILITIES.
IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE WE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED 91 PROJECTS WORTH OVER $200 MILLION BEING, BEING CONSTRUCTED AROUND COUNTYWIDE.
PARKS AND OPEN SPACES, WE HAVE 12 PROJECTS TOTALING $127 MILLION, MOST OF THAT DRIVEN FROM THE RAIL TRAIL SEGMENTS 10 AND 11 PROJECT, WHICH IS A MASSIVE, MASSIVE PROJECT.
AND THEN FINALLY, OUR, OUR COUNTY FACILITIES, WE HAVE 25 PROJECTS WORTH, UH, $68 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT THE CIP IS A PLANNING TOOL, IT'S NOT A BUDGET.
IT HELPS US TO ALIGN, UH, MULTIPLE YEAR PRIORITIES, LONG-TERM CAPITAL PRIORITIES,
[05:40:02]
IDENTIFY FUNDING SOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS PREPARE BUDGET REQUESTS FOR A GIVEN BUDGET YEAR.ALL THE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR THESE PROJECTS TO EXECUTE THESE PROJECTS STILL LIES IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
[INAUDIBLE] UH, DISCUSSING HERE TODAY.
SO WE WANNA MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE STRESS THESE NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE, BEING SEEN IN THE CIP, THESE ARE, UH, PROJECTION NUMBERS, NOT BUDGETARY SPENDING AUTHORITY DOLLARS.
BUT SPEAKING OF BUDGET, WE DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT HERE, HERE ON THIS SLIDE THAT THE CIP DOES CALL OUT FOR FY '26.
SOME MODEST ADDITIONS TO THE CIP WHICH INCLUDE A $1 MILLION GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER REVENUES WE'VE IDENTIFIED FOR SOME CRITICAL, UH, FACILITIES MAINTENANCE WORK, AS WELL AS TO AUGMENT SOME EXISTING PARK PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING.
[PAUSE] WE ARE REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS, FOR THE CIP TO ROLL OUT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE, WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET IN PARALLEL.
IT'S A FOUNDATION FOR A SMARTER, MORE COORDINATED CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING ON IT IN FUTURE YEARS.
BEFORE I KICK IT BACK OVER TO MARCUS, I DID WANNA THANK OUR PARTNERS OVER AT CDI, PUBLIC WORKS, WHO'VE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AS WELL AS OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND OUR GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AS THEY ARE REALLY THE LEADS CONSTRUCTING MUCH OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THE COUNTY PURSUES.
AND LASTLY, I ALSO WANNA THANK ELISSA BENSON, WHO'S YOUR ASSISTANT CEO.
SHE'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND COACHING AS WE PUT THIS PLAN TOGETHER.
SO I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THERE IS AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH THE PRESENTATION TODAY ON THE CIP.
- SO WHAT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU...
AGAIN, THIS IS AN OVERVIEW, ON JUNE 3RD, JUNE 4TH, BUDGET HEARINGS.
EACH OF THOSE DAYS WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT DEEPER ABOUT THE PROJECTS IN, IN...
WITHIN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
SO WE'RE NOT DIVING INTO THOSE JUST YET.
I KNOW EVERYBODY LOVES THOSE, THOSE, THOSE, THOSE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.
BUT WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE TIME TO REALLY DISCUSS THOSE.
JUST WRAPPING UP A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BUDGET SITE, I TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE NEW ELEMENTS, JUST SOME REMINDERS, WE, WE'VE DESIGNED THE SITE TO BE THE LAST, WE ROLLED OUT SOME CONSUM-, SOME, WE DID SOME STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BOARD MEMBERS, UH, STAFF MEMBERS, AND REALLY REDESIGNED IT LAST YEAR THE, THE BUDGET SITE TO HAVE SOME NAVIGATION BARS ON THE LEFT.
THE, THE SITE HAS A QUICK CLICK NOW TO TRANSLATE IT INTO SPANISH, AND THERE'S ALSO, THERE'S AN OPTION TO PICK ANY LANGUAGE OF YOUR CHOICE, UH, WITH, THROUGH GOOGLE AND, AND, AND TRANSLATE THE WHOLE SITE INTO DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
THERE'S USUALLY 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET TO 1 SPOT.
IF YOU WANNA READ THE CEO'S MESSAGE, THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT CLICKS.
SO WHATEVER YOU MIGHT THINK TO GO FIND IT, YOU SHOULD FIND THAT LINK TO, TO TAKE YOU TO THOSE ELEMENTS.
I TALKED ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT PAGES AND SOME OF THE NEW FEATURES THERE.
WE HAVE A NEW ROBUST SECTION CALLED EMERGING ISSUES.
THEY'RE MEANT TO BE KIND OF A...
A QUICK HEADLINE OF, "HERE'S THE TOPIC, HERE'S THE IMPACT, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT IT, HERE'S WHAT, HERE'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE KNOWING ABOUT IT." A QUICK HIT HEADLINE ON, ON DIFFERENT MAJOR TOPICS THAT ARE IMPACTING EVERY DEPARTMENT.
SOME DEPARTMENTS HAVE A COUPLE, SOME DEPARTMENTS HAVE 10.
AND WE REALLY WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND APPRECIATE ALL THEIR, THEIR, THEIR EFFORT TO, TO HELP CREATE THIS CONTENT AND BE ABLE TO THINK FORWARD AND THINK PROACTIVELY IN THESE NEXT 3 YEARS, WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.
WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE FEDERAL THREATS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON TOO.
WE SPENT TIME ON- ON REALLY IDENTIFYING, AS NICOLE MENTIONED THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT IN THE BUDGET.
IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE OPERATIONAL PLAN, UH, PROGRESS, THOSE 70 MEASURES THAT ARE, THAT ARE COMPLETED THIS YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE.
BUT THIS YEAR WE'VE LAYERED, LAYERED IN OVER 200 DIFFERENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
WE JUST, WE'RE TRYING TO FILTER OUT WHAT'S REALLY A, A, SOMETHING WORTHY OF PUTTING IN THE, IN THE BUDGET AT A VERY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL, BUT IT'S EASY TO, TO FIND 500 ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR 1,000 ACROSS THIS ENTIRE COUNTY.
SO WE REALLY, IN THIS FIRST YEAR, TRY TO BE REALLY LIMITED AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT NOT OVERDOING IT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF NEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF, OF SHOWING.
AND THEN THERE'S A NEW SECTION ABOUT MAJOR CHANGES.
SO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GO DOWN INTO THE BUDGET, YOU GET A HIGHLIGHT OF THE BUDGET PAGE OF WHAT ARE THE BIG CHANGES IN A DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
THERE'S A NARRATIVE THAT WE'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT AND DESCRIBE THAT.
AND THEN THERE'S A WHOLE SECTION BY EACH DIVISION THAT TALKS ABOUT THEIR INDIVIDUAL CHANGES THAT ARE DRIVING THEIR BUDGET UP OR DOWN.
SO WE HOPE THAT'S A NEW FEATURE THAT HELPS READERS UNDERSTAND THE THINGS IN THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND THE THINGS IN THE BUDGET THAT, THAT WE MUST DO, OR THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO.
THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THAT.
SO WE HOPE THE BOARD AND, AND OUR READERS WILL FIND THIS USEFUL AND CERTAINLY WE'LL BE EAGER TO TAKE YOUR FEEDBACK DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON.
BUT WITH THAT, TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT, I FORGOT TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UH, THE BUDGET IS, IS DYNAMICALLY CAPABLE ON ANY DEVICE TO SHIFT AND RESIZE ITSELF.
SO IF YOU WANNA VIEW IT ON YOUR PHONE, YOU, YOU GET A, A REALLY EASIER INTERFACE ON YOUR PHONE.
I STILL, AS MUCH AS I'M ALLERGIC TO PAPER, I STILL PRINT.
SO ALL THE PAGES PRINT REALLY CLEANLY.
[05:45:02]
YOU CAN ADJUST THE FONT SIZE, GET 'EM BIG OR SMALL.AND THEN NEXT WEEK, BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK, WE'LL BE PRODUCING A DOWNLOADABLE FULL VERSION OF THE BUDGET AS A SINGLE PDF.
SO WE'RE TRULY TRYING TO FIND NEW WAYS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY, HOWEVER THEY WANNA READ IT OR ACCESS IT OR, OR PRINT IT, IT'S, IT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM.
WHAT'S COMING NEXT IS, AS CEO PALACIOS AND ACEO, NICOLE COBURN MENTIONED, ON MAY 20TH, WE'RE GONNA BE GIVING THE BOARD AN UPDATE ON THE STATE'S MAY REVISION.
WE EXPECT IT TO LAND MAY 9TH, OR DEFINITELY OVER NEXT WEEKEND, THE WEEKEND OF 10TH AND 11TH.
IT MIGHT BE TOO SOON ON THE 20TH TO REALLY DISTILL IT DOWN TO WHAT THE UNIQUE IMPACTS ARE TO US, BUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO BROADLY SAY, "GOOD/BAD, HERE ARE THE AREAS OF OUR CONCERN." AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THE BOARD MIGHT ALSO BE ABLE TO GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE MIGHT REACT TO THAT.
JUNE 3RD AND JUNE 4TH ARE THE SCHEDULED THIRD AND FOURTH BUDGET HEARINGS.
THOSE ARE FULL DAY EVENTS STARTING AT 9:00 AM GOING TO WHENEVER WE FINISH.
DAY 1 IS REALLY A HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WITH A FOCUS ON OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
DAY 2 ON JUNE 4TH IS PUBLIC SAFETY, LAND USE, WITH SOME OF THE, REMINDER ABOUT SOME OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE, IN PUBLIC WORKS.
AND THEN WE COME BACK ON JUNE 10, CONSIDER FINAL CHANGES AND ACTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS SUBMITTED WITH CONCLUDING ACTIONS THAT AS A COUNTY, WE HAVE A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS BY THE STATE THAT WE WORK ON IN JULY AND AUGUST TO FINALIZE THE BUDGET AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR FINAL ACTION, SEPTEMBER 30TH TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.
WE DO EXPECT JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST TO BE VERY BUSY BUDGET SEASON, KIND OF A PART II BUDGET SEASON AS, UH, THE FEDERAL BUDGET WILL BE COMING TOGETHER.
THERE'LL BE A LOT OF RECONCILIATION ACTS AND THEN A SINGLE, UH, BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILL.
WE EXPECT IT TO BE A SOMETHING OF CONCERN TO US.
SO WE EXPECT TO HAVE A KIND OF A 2.0 BUDGET SEASON, IN THE FALL OR AS SOON AS WE KNOW IT, AND DISCUSSING WHAT THAT MEANS TO US AND WHAT THOSE IMPACTS ARE.
SO THAT'S AN ELEMENT WE CURRENTLY HAVEN'T PINNED DOWN AS WHEN THAT MIGHT START.
WE DON'T HAVE SCHEDULED DATES YET, BUT YOU CAN ANTICIPATE THAT IN JULY WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BUSY STAFF MONTH.
AND THEN IN AUGUST, ONE OF THE TWO MEETINGS IN AUGUST, WE EXPECT TO HAVE A, A SCHEDULED UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
IT'S POSSIBLE WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE ACTIONS UNTIL OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DEPENDING ON, OF COURSE, WHAT WE LEARN AND WHAT THE TIMING IS.
SO WITH THAT, UM, WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, GOOD OPPORTUNITY IN TIME JUST TO TELL US WHERE THIS FITS IN ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR PRIORITIES.
- WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - HI, GENTLEMEN AND...
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE, UH, BOARD SUPERVISORS.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ATTENDING ONE OF YOUR MEETINGS.
SO I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE FORMATTING.
FIRST OFF, UH, MAY I ASK A, A COUPLE QUESTIONS? I'D LIKE TO FIRST KNOW, UM, WHY THE HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY WAS NOT, UH, SPEAKING FOR ANY OF THAT BUDGET.
ANYWAY, UH, SO NO, NO ANSWER THERE.
WELL, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MHCAN.
MY NAME'S TYLER STARKMAN AND I, UM, WOULD LIKE TO, UH, REACH OUT TO YOU LOGICALLY.
CLOSING MHCAN WILL BASICALLY COST YOU A LOT MORE MONEY THAN IT'S GONNA SAVE YOU IN THE LONG RUN.
YOU GUYS ALL STOOD HERE AND LISTENED THROUGH OUR PETITIONS FOR FUNDING.
AND I NOTICED A LOT OF YOU, UH, WERE LAUGHING AND WERE, UH, ROLLING YOUR EYES AT SOME OF OUR MEMBERS.
I WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT THESE MEMBERS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DISPLACING ARE GOING TO BE OUT ON THE STREETS, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND, AND KIND FROM PEER RESPITE, UH, PEER UH, SUPPORTS, WE'RE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THEM.
NOT ONLY DEAL WITH THEM, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY COME FROM.
I COME FROM A BACKGROUND OF IT, AND I UNDERSTAND LOGISTICALLY YOU GUYS HAVE AN IMPOSSIBLE BACKGROUND RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS MY VERY FIRST TIME WORKING AT, UH, DOING BUDGETING, AND I REALLY REALIZE THAT AS, UM, YOU GUYS HAVE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK AND THAT YOU GUYS ARE IN, IN, UM, SORRY, I'M EXTREMELY NERVOUS.
YOU GUYS HAVE A VERY HARD TIME, UH, DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I WISH TO THAT YOU GUYS HAVE VERY BEST IN YOUR BUDGETING PLANS, BUT MOVING FORWARD, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT PEER SUPPORT, RESPITE HOUSES AND PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS SUCH AS MY OWN, ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE MANY MORE SERVICES AND SAVE YOU GUYS MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HOUSE THE A 100 PEOPLE THAT YOU WANNA HOUSE WITHIN 2026, WITHOUT OUR HELP, OKAY? BECAUSE WE HAVE THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
AND I THINK YOU'LL NOTICE THAT AT LEAST UPON DAWN HIGHTREE'S
[05:50:02]
EXPLANATION BEHIND ME.[SILENCE] - HI, MY NAME IS DAWN HIGHTREE.
SO I AM ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MHCAN SUCCESS STORIES.
SO THIS IS FULL CIRCLE FOR ME.
I WAS COMMISSIONED TO WRITE A GRANT AND HELP WRITE A GRANT FOR THE CORE FUNDING, WHICH WE DIDN'T END UP ESTABLISHING, BUT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MHCAN TO EXPAND THEIR SERVICES INTO HOUSING IN A 3-TIER PROGRAM WITH A RESPITE CENTER, AND THEN, UM, AN ACCESS POINT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, IN THIS PLANNING PROCESS, IN CREATING THIS PROJECT, THERE WAS...
THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS IN MOTION.
AND SO I GUESS I AM, I'M HERE TO SAY, PLEASE REVIEW MY EMAIL AND TO CONSIDER NOT TAKING ALL THE FUNDING.
THERE ARE SOME GRANTS THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR TO KEEP US OPEN, BUT DEFINITELY DO NOT CUT ALL THE FUNDING.
BECAUSE INSTEAD IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS TO DO IS INSTEAD OF TAKING ALL THESE ACCESS POINTS AWAY, THAT THEY SHOULD ACTUALLY BUILD THEM UP, INCLUDING HPHP, WHICH IS ALSO ANOTHER SERVICE THAT WITHOUT IT I DON'T SEE, IT'S JUST, PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE DYING.
EMERGENCY CARE, COPS ARE GONNA END UP BEING CALLED MORE.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE DISCRETIONARY.
I THINK, UM, THEY ARE NOT BEING FACTUAL.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] - HELLO, I'M LAURA CHATHAM.
I, UM, JUST PASSED OUT THE, UH, AN OVERVIEW OF THE LIVING WITH DIGNITY PROGRAM THAT DAWN WORKED ON.
AND I WANNA JUST SAY FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A MATH TEACHER THAT 0.5 MILLION ABOUT IT'S ACTUALLY TELLS, TELLS ME WE'RE TALKING $580,000 TO RUN A PROGRAM THAT IS WORKING SO WELL.
AND IT'S SORT OF, IT'S JUST BEYOND US TO, TO IMAGINE WHAT IT'S GONNA COST IF THOSE PEOPLE ARE ON THE STREET AND THEY HAVE TO GO TO, UM, THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
I'VE, WORKING, I, I WORKED WITH FOOD NOT BOMBS, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR HPHP, WE'D HAVE LOST PEOPLE.
IT, IT WAS, AND IT, SO IT'S JUST SO, IT'S, IT'S CHEAP TO, $580,000 IS CHEAP FOR THAT, FOR, FOR, UH, TO RUN MHCAN FOR THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE KEEP, WE HELP.
SO I JUST REALLY WANNA ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO, TO CONSIDER IF THERE ISN'T SOME WAY WE CAN, WE CAN AT LEAST KEEP MHCAN AND DEFINITELY HPHP, WE'RE GONNA BE IN TROUBLE IF WE CLOSE THAT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR, AND BY THE WAY, WE NEED, WE NEED AN MHCAN IN WATSONVILLE, AND WE PROBABLY NEED HPHP IN WATSONVILLE TOO.
SO WE, I KNOW IT'S A TERRIBLE YEAR FOR, FOR BUDGETS.
WE'RE ALL SUFFERING AND REELING FROM THE PROBLEMS. AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
[SILENCE] - IT IS GOOD A AFTERNOON.
I WAS HERE EARLY THIS MORNING, SOME OF YOU KNOW ME, I'M RICHARD LEWIS, KIND OF A LOOSE CANNON TO BRING TO THIS COUNTY A MODEL.
SO WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS YOU COME VISIT US BECAUSE ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT HUB CAN BE WHAT YOU HEARD TODAY FROM HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO, AN EXAMPLE IS HERE, STEVE WILL BE BACK.
WHERE DO YOU SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS TREATED AS AN ASSET TO SOLVE THE HOMELESS PROBLEM? CAN'T DO IT IN 2 MINUTES [INAUDIBLE].
I CAN'T DO IT, BUT YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA COME AFTER WHAT WE CAN DO IN WATSONVILLE.
SO CAN'T GO INTO IT EXCEPT PLEASE LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE, WHO WERE HOMELESS.
WHO THE HELL WOULD THINK SUCH AN OLD GUY...
AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN WORKING IN SANTA CRUZ.
BUT IF I'VE DONE RIGHT, I'D APPRECIATE HELP BECAUSE WE'RE GOING AFTER SOMEONE
[05:55:01]
5 TIMES THE MAYOR AS OUR TREASURER, ANTONIO.I PROBABLY AM KNOWN AS GRANDFATHER WHEN I WALK IN MY FAMILY, COME OVER AND VISIT US, HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE AND, AND JUST KNOW, DON'T TAKE AWAY...
I MEAN, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO CUT 20%, TAKE 20% OFF THEIR BUDGET, DON'T CUT 'EM OFF, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE COUNTY, I BELIEVE HAS SAID YOU NEED TO DO.
SO I ASK YOU FOR HELP, I ASK YOU FOR WHAT IS POSSIBLE IF WE BUILD ON THE POWER OF THE BOARD AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
IT SHOULD MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN ANOTHER TIME, NOT NECESSARILY ON THE MIC, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT JUST MENTAL HEALTH...
HEY, WITH THE GRATITUDE, I'LL BE 90 ON MY NEXT BIRTHDAY.
I'M PROUD OF WHAT I HAVE, IDEAS.
[SILENCE] - GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING.
AND I'LL TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT ARE CLOSEST TO THE ISSUE ARE CLOSEST TO THE SOLUTIONS, RIGHT? SO I APPRECIATE, UH, THIS YOUNG MAN THAT CAME AND SPOKE BEFORE ME, YOU KNOW, STILL STANDING UP HERE AND ADVOCATING FOR, UH, FOR HIS BELIEFS, YOU KNOW, AND SO WHAT I JUST WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS STUFF, I JUST WANNA GO BACK TO FEBRUARY 10TH, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS, UH, THIS BOARD APPROVED THE RANCH CAMP AND PROBATION SOLD IT AS THERE'D BE SOME MONEY SAVED, RIGHT? AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS MADE A MOTION TO HAVE, WHERE IS THAT MONEY GONNA COME FROM? CAN WE GET A LITTLE PRESENTATION? MAYBE THAT'LL HAPPEN ON, UH, JUNE 4TH.
I'M NOT SURE, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT I DO WANNA REMIND THIS BOARD THAT, UM, WHILE YOU, Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THIS, UH, BIG DEFICIT OR JUST THESE THINGS HAPPENING AT THE NATIONWIDE, COUNTYWIDE AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS $300,000 THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REINVESTED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT HAS A RANCH CAMP NOW, RIGHT? SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP, MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T GET LOST IN THE WIND OR IT GETS, YOU KNOW, BURIED IN THE, IN THE CHAOS AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, SO...
YEAH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, YEAH...
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO JUNE 3RD, JUNE 4TH AND IN BETWEEN.
I HEARD SOME AMAZING TESTIMONIES THIS MORNING AND I HOPE YOU HEARD THEM TOO.
[PAUSE] I HAVE, UH, HEARD ONLY PART OF THIS PRESENTATION.
I WAS ACTUALLY FOLLOWING IT AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND DECIDED I REALLY NEEDED TO COME AND TALK WITH YOU BECAUSE WHAT I'M NOT HEARING IS ANYTHING ABOUT CUTS TO YOUR SALARIES, TO TOP-LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES.
THAT'S NOT EVEN BEEN MENTIONED.
[LAUGHS] AND I THINK THE PUBLIC DESERVES THAT, TO KNOW THAT IF ALL OF US ARE GOING TO BE SUFFERING, YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT TOO, INCLUDING THE CAO, WHO IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY.
[PAUSE] IT'S NOT FAIR TO ASK THE PEOPLE TO ACCEPT CUTS FOR BUDGETARY THINGS WHEN YOU ARE NOT EVEN WILLING TO DISCUSS IT YOURSELVES.
I WANT TO SEE ON, UH, JUNE 4TH, WHEN THERE IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND LAND USE, I WANT TO SEE COUNTY FIRE AS AN AGENDA, AS MATTER DISCUSSED, NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE ARE BIG CHANGES HAPPENING IN COUNTY FIRE, AS YOU KNOW.
AND FIRE SHOULD GET JUST AS MUCH TIME AS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROBATION.
I WANNA SUPPORT KEEPING MHCAN OPEN FOR THE VERY REASONS YOU'VE ALL HEARD THIS MORNING.
IN FACT, IF EACH OF YOU TOOK UP PAY CUT, YOU COULD PROBABLY MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE.
[PAUSE] I WANT TO SUPPORT KEEPING THE COUNTY'S HEALTH LAB AND X-RAY OPEN, BECAUSE IF IT'S CLOSED, AS THE TECHNICIANS TOLD YOU THIS MORNING, THOSE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THAT WILL BE FORCED TO GO TO THE ER.
NOW, MR. PIMENTEL, YOU KNOW WELL THE COSTS OF WATSONVILLE HOSPITAL, YOU'RE ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I BELIEVE.
SO WHAT IS, WHAT ARE THE HOSPITAL COSTS GOING TO BE IF WE CLOSE OUR COUNTY CLINIC? THANK YOU.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE]
[06:00:01]
[SILENCE] - I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT I'M GONNA READ THIS.SO, UH, SO TYLER STARKMAN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MHCAN, UNDERSCORES THE INDISPENSABLE ROLE OF MENTAL HEALTH CLIENT ACTION NETWORK IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
HE CONTENDS THE SECESSION OF ITS FUNDING WOULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC REPERCUSSIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
STARKMAN IMPLORES THE BOARD TO DELIBERATE ON THE ETHICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THEIR DECISIONS AND THE VITAL SUPPORT OF MHCAN EXTENDS TO INDIVIDUALS GRAPPLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
CONSEQUENCES OF MHCAN CLOSURE, THE TERMINATION OF MHCAN, WOULD PRECIPITATE AUGMENTED COSTS FOR THE COUNTY, STEMMING FROM THE ERADICATION OF CRUCIAL RESOURCE THAT MITIGATES CRISES AND AIDS INDIVIDUALS IN SUSTAINING STABILITY IN HOUSING.
THIS WOULD ENGENDER FAR-REACHING EFFECTS ACROSS VARIOUS SYSTEMS, INCLUDING HOSPITALS, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, APPEAL FOR ETHICAL CONSIDERATION.
STARKMAN EXHORTS THE BOARD TO HARMONIZE THEIR ACTIONS WITH THE PROFESSED VALUES OF DIGNITY, COMPASSION, AND EQUITY ASSERTING THAT MHCAN IS INTEGRAL TO THE COUNTY'S MISSION.
HE ACCENTUATES THE NECESSITY FOR COLLABORATION TO PRESERVE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICE, PARTICULARLY DURING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
WOULD YOU LIKE ANY FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? [INAUDIBLE] [SILENCE] - SO WITH THAT, I'LL BRING IT BACK.
OH, ONLINE? - YES, CHAIR, WE DO HAVE SPEAKERS ONLINE.
KATHY, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
I'M IN SUPERVISOR DE SERPA'S, UM, DISTRICT, AND I AM HERE TO, UH, SAY THAT, UM, UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FIRST FOR, UM, ALL THE, THE DOCUMENTATION AND THE INFORMATION AND THE EFFORT THAT'S BEEN PUT IN THE WEBSITE TO MAKE THE, ALL OF THIS, UM, TRANSPARENT AND AVAILABLE FOR STUDY.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SEEM TO BE TAKING THE BRUNT OF THE CUTS AND THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE'RE FACING.
I'M, I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S ROOM IN THE, LIKE, IS THERE DISCRETION THAT CAN BE USED WITH GENERAL FUNDS AND HOW THAT GETS USED FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS? AND I'D LIKE TO, UM, LIKE AMPLIFY, UM, MR. GOMEZ'S STATEMENT THIS MORNING THAT TO ACHIEVE PUBLIC SAFETY, WE NEED TO INVEST IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE CAN SPEND IN PUBLIC HEALTH IN PREVENTION, IS WHAT ACTUALLY CAN CONTRIBUTE THE MOST TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
[SILENCE] - CALL IN USER 4, YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOW AVAILABLE.
[SILENCE] - SO WE'RE LIVING IN A, UM, UH, DICTATORSHIP WITH, UM, THESE BILLIONAIRES RUNNING THE SHOW.
I HEARD RALPH NADER RADIO HOUR YESTERDAY WHERE HE INTERVIEWED BRUCE FEIN, WHO'S A CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER, AND HE WAS SAYING HOW UM, THE-THE, IT'S ILLEGAL WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ALL OF THE CUTS TAKING PLACE WITH AN UNELECTED PERSON WHO'S NOT CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.
AND THERE'S ALSO SOME ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST TRUMP THAT I THINK SHOULD BE ENDORSED.
THE COUNTY SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS.
THE IDEA OF ALL THESE CUTS TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE POOR FROM THESE BILLIONAIRES WHO FLANKED TRUMP AT THE INAUGURATION, THAT-THAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL.
AND I WANT TO RECOMMEND ALSO GREGPALAST.COM, HE WROTE AN ARTICLE "TRUMP LOST, VOTER SUPPRESSION WON," AND IT'S GOT THE FIGURES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ILLEGALLY TAKEN OFF THE VOTING ROLLS.
ANOTHER SOURCE OF INFORMATION, KPFA.ORG AND THE FLASHPOINT SHOW AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
THINGS ARE GOING TO AI AND THIS THEFT FROM UM, THE PUBLIC FUNDS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOMMEND THE REAL ANTHONY FAUCI, BILL GATES, BIG PHARMA AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON DEMOCRACY AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENING BY ROBERT F. KEN-...
- WE HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, CHAIR.
- WITH THAT, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR UH, QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
[06:05:02]
SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS.AND I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS.
PEOPLE ALWAYS TELL US THEY DON'T ENVY OUR JOBS AND I DON'T ENVY ESPECIALLY BUDGETING JOBS DURING THIS CRAZY FISCAL PERIOD THAT WE'RE ENTERING INTO, WHICH IS SO INSANELY VOLATILE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP TODAY FOR ALL OF THEIR COMMENTS AND THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES.
THIS IS GONNA BE AN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING TIME FOR US FINANCIALLY.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE SAYINGS THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING AND SAYING TO OTHER FOLKS IS, "ENJOY TODAY BECAUSE TOMORROW'S GOING TO BE WORSE," AS IT RELATES TO THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, OUR HOPE IS THAT THERE IS, THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS WILL STEP UP AND THERE'LL BE SOME LEADERSHIP AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO PREVENT MANY OF THESE CUTS FROM HAPPENING.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO BE ENTERING INTO SOME PRETTY DARK TIMES HERE.
THE FIRST, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, MAKE A CLARIFICATION UM, ON THE AGENDA UNDER BUDGET SUMMARY CHANGES.
THERE'S A BULLET POINT THAT I'LL JUST READ, $1 MILLION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND PARKS CAPITAL PROJECTS, $200,000 FOR EACH DISTRICT, INCLUDING $100,000 ALLOCATED BY DISTRICT 3 FOR THE DAVENPORT SANITATION DISTRICT AND SHARK FIN COVE PARKING STUDY FOR MEDICAID DISTRICT SALES TAX.
I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT UM, IN THIS YEAR'S AGENDA, IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, I ALLOCATED THE 50,000 TO THE DAVENPORT SANITATION DISTRICT.
SO THAT SHOULD ALREADY ACTUALLY BE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND THEN THE, AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WAS, UH, WAS GOING TO BE, WAS ON THE AGENDA TO BE CARRIED OVER TO NEXT YEAR FOR SHARK'S FIN COVE PARKING STUDY DUE TO THE FACT THAT CDI STAFF COULDN'T WORK ON IT THIS YEAR.
BUT THEY SAID THAT IF WE, THEY COULD DO IT NEXT YEAR.
AND SO WE ALLOCATE THAT MONEY FROM THIS YEAR TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
SO I JUST WANT THAT TO BE CLARIFIED BECAUSE THE WAY THAT IT READS IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, THAT $100,000 ALLOCATION FOR NEXT YEAR HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT ON THOSE TWO THINGS VERSUS THE FACT THAT THEY WERE SPENT THIS YEAR.
- YEAH, THOSE ARE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN THE BUDGET.
SO OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS YOU WERE HAVING ALLOCATIONS BOTH IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AND NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
SO THERE'S, THAT ALLOCATION IS IN 2025, 2026.
SO IF WE MISUNDERSTOOD, WE CAN CORRECT IT THROUGH OUR NEXT UPCOMING BUDGET ACTIONS.
- THAT HAS BEEN VERY MUCH SO MISINTERPRETED BECAUSE UM, THIS YEAR, THE 200,000 FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DUE TO THE FACT THAT UM, STAFF COULDN'T DO THE WORK, BUT WE HAD THE MONEY THIS YEAR, THE AGENDA AND-AND THE WAY THE MOTION WAS READ WAS THAT IT WOULD CARRY OVER FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
- SO THIS YEAR'S ALLOCATION IS...
SO IT'S IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND IT WILL BE RE-BUDGET, BE RE-BUDGETED NEXT YEAR.
- THE SHARK FIN COVE STUDY, WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A NEED FOR $100,000.
- AND WE'RE GONNA PUT AN ADDITIONAL 50,000 IN IT.
SO THIS 100,000 IS JUST THE NEW ALLOCATION FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
WHATEVER'S BEEN BUDGETED THIS FISCAL YEAR WILL ROLL INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
- OKAY, THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE THE WAY IT READ, THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION.
I THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
- UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I-I AM SYMPATHETIC TO WHAT I HEARD FROM UM, FOLKS ABOUT MAINTAINING THE FUNDING FOR MHCAN, THE X-RAY AND THE LABS, UM, SERVICES AND SO, I THINK WHAT MIGHT BE GOOD IS IF WE HAVE OPTIONS IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE TO FULLY FUND OR MAYBE THERE'S ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDING MEASURE K, WHAT HAVE YOU, THAT COULD KEEP GEMMA HOUSE AND MHCAN OPEN AND IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEPING SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES GOING, JUST WHAT THAT BUDGET WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR THE, IF WE JUST INCLUDE WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING TODAY AROUND JUSTICE AND GENDER, SUICIDE PREVENTION, THE X-RAY AND THE LAB SERVICES, MHCAN, GEMMA HOUSE AND THEN UM, AND I'M, I'M NOT SURE IS, IF, IF HPHP IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK THIS YEAR OR NOT, NO.
OKAY, SO WHEN, WHEN THE TIME, WHEN TIME'S TO COME TO MAKE A MOTION, I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY ADD THAT ADDITIONAL DIRECTION THAT WE CAN SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO FUND THOSE PROGRAMS. AND IN PARTICULAR, I WILL SAY I, WHEN I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL, I ACTUALLY WENT BY MHCAN AND GOT TO VISIT THE PROGRAM.
AND IT'S AMAZING WHAT THOSE FOLKS DO.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE DAY SERVICE OUTSIDE OF MHCAN IN THE COUNTY FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.
I MEAN, MAYBE THE-THE DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.
I MEAN, THIS IS KIND OF A DROP-IN LOCATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO GET FOOD, THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY AND THE-THE SUPPORT NETWORK THAT'S THERE, ON THE BUDGET THAT THEY WORK ON, IS JUST SO INCREDIBLE.
AND IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IF WE LOST UM, THOSE SERVICES, ESPECIALLY HERE IN UM, IN THE THIRD DISTRICT, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BE REALLY UPSET WITH THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE HOMELESS AND YOU'RE HAVING MENTAL HEALTH UH, ISSUES,
[06:10:03]
LIKE WHERE DO YOU GO DURING THE DAY? YOU'RE ON THE STREETS, YOU'RE IN A PARK, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA BE MORE SUBJECT TO HAVING INTERACTIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.AND TO HAVE THAT UM, TYPE OF FACILITY AND THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES BEING OFFERED AT SUCH A LOW RATE, I THINK IT'S- IT'S- IT'S- IT'S WORTH ITS WEIGHT AND IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING HOW WE CAN CONTINUE THAT.
SIMILARLY WITH-WITH GEMMA HOUSE, WE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW, WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, MANY OF US ARE UNDER, ARE UNDER THREAT.
AND WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING OUT OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE-THE JAIL SYSTEM, HAVING A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN LAND, WHERE THEY CAN GET SUPPORT SERVICES TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM, IN THE END SAVES US MONEY, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THAT THOSE TWO PROGRAMS ARE REALLY CRITICAL IN TERMS OF FINDING FUNDING TO SUPPORT.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE PROGRAMS BEING SUSTAINED, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET? IF WE REMOVE THOSE PROGRAMS, WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET, IT'LL AT LEAST PROVIDE US WITH OPTIONS TO CONSIDER.
AND SO I'M, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE-WE KEEP SOME OF THOSE SERVICES AND AT LEAST HAVE A LOOK TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT COULD MEAN AND WHERE FUNDING COULD COME FROM.
I MEAN, UM, MANY OF US, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR BUDGETS AS WELL AND IF THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO ALLOCATE FUNDING FROM OUR DISTRICT BUDGETS TO SUPPORT SOME OF WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE CUT, UH, I THINK THAT, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO-TO DO THAT AS WELL.
SO I'LL END MY COMMENTS THERE 'CAUSE I KNOW WE STILL HAVE LIKE 7 OTHER ITEMS AND IT'S ALMOST, IT'S LIKE 4:40.
YOU ASKED A REALLY GOOD QUESTION ABOUT HPHP.
THE-THE PROGRAM ISN'T LIKE BEING TARGETED FOR REDUCTIONS, BUT IN HEALTH THERE'S A LOT OF VACANT POSITIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ELIMINATED.
I BELIEVE THERE'S MAYBE 6 IN HPHP VACANT POSITIONS THAT ARE...
- VACANT POSITION? - YEAH. - OKAY.
- SO I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND YOU JUST KIND OF BROUGHT SOMETHING UP, BUT I WANTED TO SEE, SO FROM THE 74 POSITIONS, 63 OF THOSE OR 63.4 ARE, ARE VACANT POSITIONS.
CORRECT? OR THAT'S 6 BECAUSE OF....
YES, WE HAVE ABOUT 11.6 FTES EQUIVALENCE POSITIONS THAT ARE TECHNICALLY FILLED.
AND I THINK PERSONNEL IS WORKING ON SOLUTIONS.
- IS THAT IN-HOUSE SOLUTIONS LIKE TO KEEP THEM...
- SO THEY'LL LOOK ON PLACING THOSE POSITIONS WHO, FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO REMAIN A COUNTY EMPLOYEE.
THEY'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO TRY TO PLACE THOSE EMPLOYEES, AND THERE ARE ABOUT 12 OF THEM.
- I KNOW EVERYONE THAT CAME HERE TODAY, BUT IS THERE ANY... LIKE OF THOSE 11.4...
DO YOU, DO WE KNOW ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY'RE FROM? - THEY'RE FROM THE HEALTH CENTERS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRIMARILY.
- SO I THINK TWO THIRDS OF THEM ARE FROM THE HEALTH CENTERS AND A THIRD OF THEM ARE FROM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
- AND THAT 0.6 IS THE PART TIME POSITION? - CORRECT.
THERE'S QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? - A COUPLE QUESTIONS, I SEE OUR HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY DIRECTOR HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY ALL DAY AND SINCE SOME OF THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION INVOLVES YOU, I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD COME UP TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, THE FIRST IS AROUND LAB AND X-RAY, RIGHT? I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ULTIMATELY UH, OUTSOURCING THESE SERVICES UM, AND IT SEEMS EASY ENOUGH.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT THE FIRST JURISDICTION TO DO THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE TESTIMONY WE HEARD TODAY IS THAT BECAUSE THE COUNTY SERVES A PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE POPULATION, THESE ARE FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING THE CONNECTION, YOU KNOW, TO GET THAT BLOOD DRAW TO GET THAT X-RAY AT A, FROM A THIRD PARTY.
TRULY THERE MUST BE DATA ABOUT THIS FROM OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS TRANSITION.
CAN... DO YOU KNOW KIND OF WHAT THE IMPACT OF THIS KIND OF TRANSITION IS BASED ON, YOU KNOW OTHER JURISDICTIONS MAKING THE SWITCH? - YEAH, I'LL START HIGH LEVEL, HIGH LEVEL AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CHIEF OF CLINICS TO ALSO SPEAK.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT UH, POINT IN TIME FOR HEALTH SERVICES.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING, UNFORTUNATELY, IS, HAS BEEN SAID OVER AND OVER.
AND I THINK TO SIMPLIFY IT IS WE'RE NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, PRONE OR SHIELD FROM THE RECESSION.
SO WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF INCREASES IN COSTS FOR BASIC SUPPLIES IN OUR CLINICS, FOR STAFFING, AND ALSO EVEN SOME OF OUR CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE.
AND SO WE HAD TO MAKE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION.
AND WE WILL PRESENT ON THIS UH, IN MORE DETAIL JUNE 3RD.
TODAY IS JUST A HIGHLIGHT OF THE KEY BUDGET FOR THOSE WONDERING UM, THAT WE HAD TO MAKE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUSED IN RETAINING UM, CORE SERVICES OF OUR PRIMARY CARE.
AND SO WE LOOKED AROUND WHAT OUR NEIGHBORING CLINIC, COMMUNITY CLINICS ARE DOING,
[06:15:01]
LIKE SALUD PARA LA GENTE AND SANTA CRUZ HEALTH CENTERS.AND WE WERE ALSO LOOKING AND MADE AN ASSESSMENT OF WHERE ARE THE UNITS WHERE WE'RE LOSING MONEY THAT ARE NOT, OR NOT GENERATING REVENUE.
AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE LOOKED ACROSS WHAT UM, OUR OTHER MARKETS DOING, OTHER CENTERS ARE DOING, WE REALIZED THAT THEY ACTUALLY OUTSOURCE THESE SERVICES BECAUSE, IN FACT, THEY DON'T UM, GENERATE REVENUE.
AND IT IS A MODEL THAT WE WERE HOPING TO RETAIN.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA DO.
WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO HAVE HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO CARE THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR CLIENTS, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO RETAIN PRIMARY CARE SERVICES, WE HAVE TO.
AND SO AFTER MAKING A VERY HARD ANALYSIS AND DECISION, WE, UM, THIS IS A PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'RE DOING.
SALUD PARA LA GENTE ALSO USES QUEST, FOR EXAMPLE, OR THE HOSPITAL FOR SOME OF THESE SERVICES.
THE INFORMATION I RECEIVED FROM UM, OTHER ENTITIES IS THAT, UH, THEY DO HAVE TO...
IT'S NOT THE SAME BEING ABLE TO WALK NEXT DOOR, RIGHT, TO THE NEXT DOOR OF A BUILDING AND GET THE CARE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THEY ALSO HAVEN'T SEEN SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO THE CARE OF THE CLIENT.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE HERE.
WE KNOW THAT IT IS BEST FOR US TO HAVE ALL OF THE UNITS IN PLACE.
CONSIDERING THE HARD CHOICES THAT WE'VE HAD TO MAKE, THIS IS THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO THE BOARD.
- CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION, SUPERVISOR KOENIG.
MORE SPECIFICALLY TO THE SERVICES, SHOULD OUR PROPOSED BUDGET GET APPROVED.
WE-WE UNDERSTAND THE-THE-THE BLOCKAGES THAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY GIVE TO OUR PATIENTS.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR PATIENTS ARE CERTAINLY AMONG THE MOST MEDICALLY AND SOCIALLY COMPLEX IN THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND NONE OF US, ALL OF US IN, ALL OF US IN THE HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY ARE THERE FOR THE PATIENTS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND NONE OF US WANT TO SEE LESS FOR THEM.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS SUCH A HARD DECISION.
SO WE ARE VERY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MINIMIZE THE BARRIERS TO PATIENTS.
AND SO WE ARE WORKING WITH MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LAB AGENCIES TO SEE IF WE CAN GET PERHAPS SOMEBODY IN-HOUSE TO DO THE BLOOD DRAWS FOR OUR PATIENTS OR UM, MAYBE A MOBILE UNIT, SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T REQUIRE PEOPLE TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AND GO THROUGH ALL THE RIGMAROLE THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE DO.
SO WE ARE, WE ARE, AND WE'RE DOING THAT WITH X-RAY AS WELL.
WE ARE, AND-AND WE HAVE STAFF WHO ARE ALREADY ADEPT IN PAVING THE WAY FOR OUR PATIENTS TO GET WHAT THEY NEED, WHO MIGHT NOT BE SUCCESSFUL ELSEWHERE.
SO I JUST, I DO, I DO WANT TO REITERATE WE'RE NOT ELIMINATING HPHP OR OUR HEALTH CENTERS, BUT WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICES THAT OUR PATIENTS WILL ACCESS FOR LAB AND X-RAY ARE AS EASY AS POSSIBLE AND IDEALLY AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO OUR CLINICS.
I MEAN, YOU SAID YOU'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE FOR WAYS TO ULTIMATELY SLIM DOWN THE BUDGET.
COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO UH, THIS CLAIM, WE HEARD TODAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN MANAGEMENT STAFF FROM 17 TO 31, AND, YOU KNOW, WHY NOT PROPOSE CUTS THERE RATHER THAN FRONTLINE STAFF? CAN YOU, CAN YOU JUST WALK THROUGH SOME OF YOUR THINKING ON THAT? - I DON'T HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.
I WILL SAY THAT UM, I'VE-I'VE BEEN TAKING THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 3 YEARS, 3 AND A HALF YEARS, UM, VERY SERIOUSLY.
I HAVE MADE CUTS AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL.
WE CUT, IF YOU SEE THE ACTUAL BUDGET, WE DID CUT ONE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
AND I DID THAT LITERALLY BECAUSE I UNDERSTOOD THE NEED FOR US TO REPRESENT UM, AND IT'S IN THIS FISCAL YEAR'S '25, '26 PROPOSAL TO YOU GUYS.
I NEED TO GO BACK AND MAKE AN ASSESSMENT.
WHAT I KNOW, THOUGH, IS THAT HSA HAS BEEN GROWING TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE PAST 5 TO 8 YEARS.
AND THAT GROWTH ALSO COMES WITH HAVING TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE PROPER SUPERVISION, PROPER UM, MANAGEMENT TO MENTOR AND SUPPORT THE PROGRAM GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD.
I WILL BE GOING BACK AND DOING A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF THAT.
I ALSO KNOW THAT WE, UM, OUR INTENTION IS DEFINITELY NOT TO CUT, YOU KNOW, THE CORE SERVICES AND TO ALSO LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD, AND LIKE I MENTIONED, IF YOU LOOK IN THE DETAIL OF THE CUTS, YOU'LL SEE THEM ACROSS THE BOARD, INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AT HSA.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED ANALYSIS.
I WOULD DEFINITELY JUST ECHO SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS COMMENTS THAT, I MEAN, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN LOOK AT OPTIONS
[06:20:03]
WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINAL BUDGET DECISIONS, I THINK IT'S HELPFUL.I MEAN, I AGREE CERTAINLY SOME, SOME OF THESE SERVICES COULD BE SAVING US LIKE, LIKE MHCAN, ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY SAVING US QUITE A BIT OF MONEY BY KEEPING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS.
AND SO ULTIMATELY WHEN WE MAKE, SHOULD MAKE THAT DECISION AND, AND ANALYZE THOSE TRADE OFFS WITH FULL INFORMATION.
ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION UH, FOR OUR CDI DIRECTOR WHO I ALSO SEE IS UH, IN THE AUDIENCE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S MENTION IN THE BUDGET OF AN ADDITIONAL $4 MILLION UH, FOR ROADS.
AND UM, THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
I KNOW THAT WE ALSO UH, IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET LOST ROUGHLY 2 MILLION FOR OUR-OUR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR ROADS.
CAN YOU GIVE US, PAINT SOME BROAD BRUSH STROKES ON HOW WE MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, CONTEXT ON HOW MUCH MONEY THAT IS AND-AND WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO INVEST IT IN, OR DO YOU SEE TAKING 2 OUT OF 4 AND JUST KIND OF RESTORING OUR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE BUDGET AT LEAST, OR-OR AUGMENTING IT WITH THE ADDITIONAL MONEY? HOW-HOW DO YOU SEE USING THAT MONEY? - YEAH, THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING OR GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND I KNOW THAT'S, SURE STANDS OUT TO ME AS WELL IN THESE DIFFICULT BUDGET TIMES.
I THINK I'LL START BY SAYING THAT THE FOUNDATION OF KEEPING OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM RUNNING SAFELY IS OUR ROAD OPERATIONS TEAM.
AND WHAT OUR ROAD OPERATIONS TEAM DOES IS THEY RESTRAPE THE ROADS.
THEY PUT UP NEW SIGNS, REPLACE SIGNS THAT GET KNOCKED OVER.
THEY CLEAN OUT THE DITCHES TO MAKE SURE THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM WORKS DURING THE, THE WINTER.
THEY KEEP THE TREES FROM FALLING ON THE ROAD.
THEY DO PATCH PAVING, POTHOLE REPAIR.
IT'S NEVER ENOUGH, BUT LAST YEAR WE SAW A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN ALL THOSE SERVICES UM, SOME IN SOME AREAS LIKE 50% REDUCTION BECAUSE WE HAD TO PUT ALL THEIR ENERGY INTO STORM DAMAGE AND RESPONSE.
AND SO UH, FROM THE '23 DISASTERS AND FINISHING UP AND GETTING THOSE ROADS BACK OPEN, YOU KNOW, AT THE PEAK OF THAT DISASTER WE HAD 60 ROADS CLOSED.
TODAY WE HAVE 5 CLOSED BUT WE STILL HAVE A BIG LIFT UM, UPON US.
AND I'LL SHARE, I, I'VE GOT A COUPLE NUMBERS HERE JUST FOR PERSPECTIVE.
WELL, LET ME START BY SAYING WE TRACK WHAT WE PRODUCE, THE WORK WE DO AND WE TRY TO DO A 5-YEAR AVERAGE.
SO OUR CREWS THEY HAVE BEEN AVERAGING ABOUT 130 MILES A YEAR OF RESTRIPING, YOU KNOW, AS THE STRIPING WEARS OUT.
LAST YEAR THEY WERE ONLY ABLE TO DO 15 MILES.
SO YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THIS MONEY GOING TO DO? WELL, IT'S GONNA RESTORE THAT SERVICE.
AND OF THAT 4 MILLION THAT YOU SAW ON THE SLIDES, MORE THAN HALF OF IT'S GOING TO GO INTO ROAD OPERATIONS BECAUSE WE SEE THAT AS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR ROAD SYSTEM IS, IS THE OPERATIONS.
AND SO WE'LL RESTORE UH, QUITE A BIT OF THAT STRIPING.
WE THINK WE CAN GET ANOTHER 50 MILES BACK IN THERE.
ALSO UH, DITCH CLEANING, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THOSE DITCHES CLEAR FROM, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A FOREST AND THOSE TREES DROP A LOT OF MATERIAL, AND IF IT FILL UP THE DITCHES, THEN IN THE WINTERTIME, THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THE WATER TO GO.
AND THAT'S WHAT WASHES OUT THE ROADS.
RIGHT? SO LAST YEAR, WHERE WE NORMALLY DO ABOUT 200 MILES A YEAR, LAST YEAR WE DID, UH, LESS THAN 80.
SO THAT WAS A PRETTY BIG REDUCTION BECAUSE WE HAD TO DEVOTE THOSE CREWS TO OTHER THINGS LIKE KEEPING THE ROADS OPEN.
WITH THIS INCREASE, WITH THIS TWO PLUS MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE THIS, IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, WE WOULD, UM, WE WOULD RESTORE A LITTLE MORE THAN 50 MILES OF THAT DITCHING.
SO THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE EXAMPLES THAT REALLY JUMP OUT.
SUPERVISOR KOENIG, I THINK YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT THE WHOLE $4 MILLION.
AND SO A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION WOULD BE GOING INTO ROAD OPERATIONS.
THAT'S OUR CORE, THAT'S OUR FOUNDATION.
THE REMAINDER OF THE MONEY IS MORE PROJECT SPECIFIC AND HAPPY TO GET INTO THAT.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WENT INTO THAT WITH YOUR QUESTION, BUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, I COULD TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
- IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE THE QUICK VERSION, UH...
- ... THAT YOU WANNA SHARE WITH US NOW, THAT'S GREAT.
- [LAUGHS] OKAY, I WILL, I WILL.
SO, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER, UH...
YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT 1.7 MILLION WOULD GO INTO ACTUALLY GRANTS.
AND SO WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF GRANTS THAT WE WANNA MATCH WITH THIS FUND, WITH THESE FUNDS.
IT'S OUR SS4A GRANT WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE DEATHS ON OUR ROADS.
AND SO THAT'S, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT AN ACTION PLAN TOGETHER.
WE'VE GOT A, UM, A VERY, VERY LARGE CULVERT UNDER CAPITOLA ROAD RIGHT NEAR SOQUEL AVE THAT IS IN A REALLY, REALLY POOR CONDITION.
WE'VE BEEN WANTING TO REPLACE IT FOR MANY YEARS.
WE HAVE A GRANT TO DO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, FOR FIRE REDUCTION, FOR WILDFIRE PROTECTIONS WHICH ALIGNS WITH A LOT OF THE VEGETATION WORK WE DO ON COUNTY ROADS ANYWAY,
[06:25:01]
SO WE GOT A, ABOUT A $1.3 MILLION GRANT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO IMPLEMENT.AND THEN, UM, WE HAVE, UH, SOME GRANTS FOR, FOR EMERGENCY CORRIDORS, TO DO SOME RESURFACING.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, TO A GRANT MATCH FOR THE, A NEW SIGNAL AT ROBERTSON AND SOQUEL.
AND SO THAT'S HOW WE WOULD PLAN TO SPEND THE REMAINDER OF THAT MONEY.
AND SO SOME OF THOSE GRANTS ARE VERY TIME SENSITIVE, SO I JUST LEAVE THAT WITH YOU, BUT I ALSO DEFER TO YOUR, YOUR DIRECTION.
- ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE CLIFF NOTES.
I MEAN, I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT ANYTHING WE CAN DO ON PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, PARTICULARLY THE DITCHING, WILL BE ESSENTIAL GIVEN THAT, IF WE'RE SEEING THE, THE INCREASE OF YOU KNOW, WHAT THE, WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER A OR DECLARE A DISASTER, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE OF LIKE 7X OR MORE, THEN WE REALLY HAVE GOTTA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP THE ROADS FROM WASHING OUT BECAUSE CHANCES ARE, UH, THAT WHEN THEY DO, THERE WON'T BE A FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER TO PROVIDE THAT FEMA MONEY TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE.
- WELL, WHILE YOU'RE UP HERE, I DO HAVE WHAT, ONE MORE QUESTION, ARE- ARE WE UTILIZING THE PRI-, PRIORITIZATION TOOL FOR ANY OF THIS, OR WE'RE JUST KIND OF PICKING AND CHOOSING WHICH ONES? - YES.
WELL, SO, SO FOR THE, THE $4 MILLION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT MONEY IS NOT BEING, NOT GOING INTO THE STORM DISASTER REPAIRS.
AND THAT PRIORITIZATION TOOL IS THE, THAT'S, THAT IS JUST USED FOR THE DISASTER REPAIRS.
AND SO THAT'S A DIFFERENT TOOL.
SO THIS IS LIKE ROAD OPERATIONS IS, ISN'T REALLY PART OF THAT PRIORITIZATION TOOL.
SO THE GRANTS, THEY'RE JUST OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME UP? - WELL THESE ARE GRANTS THAT WE GOT IN THE PAST, IN YEARS PAST.
AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DELIVER THOSE GRANTS.
WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE GRANTS, WE HAD MATCH MONEY, UH, FIGURED OUT, BUT THAT MONEY WAS SPENT ON STORM DAMAGE.
AND SO THAT MATCH MONEY IS GONE AND SO NOW WE'RE FACED WITH A TOUGH DECISION IN, IN TRYING TO FIND MATCH MONEY FOR THESE GRANTS.
SO THESE ARE GRANTS THAT WE GOT...
TWO OF THEM WERE FROM TWO CYCLE-, OR ONE CYCLE AGO WITH RTC COMPETITIVE GRANTS AND THEN ONE OF THEM WAS A, UM, WAS ACTUALLY A FEMA GRANT, A HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT THAT WE GOT ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
- BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO MATCHING GRANTS, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SOUTH COUNTY GETS THE SHORT END OF THE STICK WHEN IT COMES TO MATCHING GRANTS OR ANY TYPE OF GRANTS AT THAT.
- SOME OF THE GREATEST PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN CELEBRATING LATELY ARE LIKE GREEN VALLEY ROAD, WHERE WE GOT A $5 MILLION GRANT AND HOLAHAN SIGNAL, WHERE WE GOT ABOUT A $3 MILLION OF GRANTS.
SO WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
SO I, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE'VE DONE IT ALL.
THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO FOR SURE.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR CEO AND STAFF FOR THE THOUGHTFUL AND DILIGENT WORK THAT WENT IN TO PREPARING THIS BUDGET.
I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S A SOBERING MOMENT.
I WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THIS PROPOSAL, BUT I ALSO WANNA BE CLEAR THAT I TAKE WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES, HOW WE SUPPORT OUR WORKFORCE, AND HOW WE MEET THE MOMENT AT A TIME OF DEEP FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY.
AND THERE ARE A FEW CORE PRESSURES DRIVING THIS BUDGET, AND I WANNA NAME WHAT I'M SEEING AS MOST URGENT TODAY.
FIRST, IT'S OF COURSE THE SERIOUS THREATS THAT WE WERE, THAT WE'RE, UM, RECEIVING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IF OUR FEDERAL LEADERS MOVE FORWARD WITH CUTTING PUBLIC HEALTH, HOUSING, FOOD ASSISTANCE, MEDICAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S COUNTIES LIKE SANTA CRUZ THAT ARE REALLY GONNA BEAR THE BRUNT.
AND THESE AREN'T JUST HYPOTHETICALS.
THESE ARE REAL RISKS ON THE HORIZON, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE PLANNING ACCORDINGLY.
SECOND, YOU KNOW, I'M SEEING THE WAY THAT DISASTER COSTS ARE STILL WEIGHING US DOWN.
WE'VE SPENT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE FIRES, THE FLOODS AND INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURES TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS.
AND REALLY THE DELAY IN REPAYMENT IS STRAINING OUR ABILITY TO INVEST IN WHAT'S MOST NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIRD, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL HEARD COSTS ARE UP, OUR NEEDS ARE UP, AND HONESTLY, COVID ERA DOLLARS ARE GONE.
SO WE'VE EXPANDED SERVICES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND I FEEL VERY PROUD OF THAT.
BUT NOW WE'RE OPERATING IN A NEW FINANCIAL REALITY AND WE'VE NOT YET FULLY REBALANCED THE SIZE AND STRUCTURE OF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO MATCH THIS MOMENT.
SO WITHIN THAT BROADER CONTEXT, THE PROPOSED CUTS TO HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY OVER 70 POSITIONS,
[06:30:03]
IT REALLY UNDERSCORES WHAT'S AT STAKE.THESE ARE NOT ABSTRACT REDUCTIONS, THESE HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I FEEL LIKE THEY DEMAND CAREFUL SCRUTINY AND CLEAR-EYED DECISION MAKING.
SO HERE'S HOW I'M APPROACHING THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I FEEL LIKE ESSENTIAL SERVICES MUST BE PROTECTED.
PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE NAVIGATING FINANCIAL INSECURITY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES OR THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA AND DISCONNECTION.
I'M GONNA BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO SUPPORT AND PRESERVE THE SAFETY NET FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
NEXT, I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BE NIMBLE AND NOT AS NOSTALGIC ABOUT THE WAY THINGS USED TO BE.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THE SAME WAY.
THE STATUS QUO NEEDS TO CHANGE BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US IS CHANGING.
SO IT'S ABOUT ASKING WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT ISN'T, AND WHAT NEEDS TO EVOLVE TO MEET THE GROWING DEMANDS OF TODAY.
THIS IS MY FIRST BUDGET CYCLE, BUT I AM BRINGING EXPERIENCE TO THIS MOMENT THAT I PLAN TO USE.
I'VE LED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH CRISISES, THROUGH GROWTH AND THROUGH A NUMBER OF HARD CHOICES.
AND I UNDERSTAND HOW BUDGETS AND STAFFING DECISIONS IMPACT FRONTLINE CARE AND OUTCOMES.
SO I'M GONNA BE APPLYING THAT LENS TO EVERY ITEM IN THIS PROPOSAL.
I, I'M SEEING THIS REALLY ABOUT OUR VALUES AS A COUNTY AND ABOUT REALLY OUR, OUR LONG-TERM RESILIENCE.
I FEEL LIKE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT CUTS, IT'S ABOUT INVESTING WISELY, IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST AND PLANNING AHEAD.
AND I WANNA BE A PART OF SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE VALUES DRIVEN APPROACH THAT SERVES OUR WHOLE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO RELY ON US THE MOST.
AND SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME TO TALK TODAY DURING OUR VARIOUS PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, I JUST WANNA SHARE THAT I, I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS, I SHARE THEM, I HAVE NOT MADE ANY FINAL DECISIONS ABOUT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M GONNA BE PROPOSING AND WHAT I SHARE, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
AND OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF WEEKS, I'M GONNA BE DIVING DEEP INTO THE DETAILS.
I'M COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY, TO ASKING HARD QUESTIONS, AND TO BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CHOICES THAT WE MAKE TOGETHER.
SO AGAIN, I JUST WANNA THANK THE STAFF FOR THE HARD WORK ON THIS.
IT'S, IT'S CLEAR YOU PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO IT.
AND I WANNA JUST KIND OF THANK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT I HOPE CAN BE A REALLY FOCUSED, HONEST, AND SOLUTION ORIENTED BUDGET PROCESS.
AND LIKE I SAID, I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF TIME AND KIND OF LOOKING AT WHAT'S AHEAD OF US, I'D RATHER TRY TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, IN MY OFFICE AND COME BACK DURING BUDGET HEARINGS TO REALLY DIVE IN AND, AND SHARE WITH, UM, WITH EVERYBODY KIND OF WHERE I'VE LANDED ON THAT.
SO, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION AND, AND THAT THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR TODAY.
- GO AHEAD SUPERVISOR DE SERPA.
I ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.
SO TODAY IS NOT A DAY TO GIVE DIRECTION.
CORRECT? I'M LOOKING AT CARLOS.
TODAY IS A DAY TO JUST HEAR INFORMATION AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING MORE OF THESE.
- CORRECT, AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT US TO RESEARCH OR, UM, SOME OF THE SUPERVISORS SAID THAT YOU WANT US TO THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO FUND DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, THAT'S CERTAINLY APPROPRIATE AND WE CAN WORK ON THAT AND COME BACK AT FUTURE BUDGET MEETINGS.
UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE ARE A NUM-...
I'VE GONE THROUGH ESPECIALLY THE HSA BUDGET LINE BY LINE, BY LINE, BY LINE.
AND I DO HAVE LIKE MONICA SAID, SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ, I HAVE REALLY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE REDUCTIONS THERE.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE HEARD, UM, IS THAT, IN TERMS OF THE 11 LAB AND X-RAY PEOPLE, LIKE SOME OF THEM WILL RETIRE AND SOME OF THEM WILL DO THIS.
WELL, WE HAVEN'T EVEN VOTED ON THIS BUDGET.
SO I'M WONDERING IS, IS THAT PLAN ALREADY BEING IMPLEMENTED WITHIN HSA IN TERMS OF CLOSING DOWN THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS? - NO.
WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS TO GET THROUGH STILL TONIGHT.
IF FOR THE FUTURE, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT SPECIAL STUDY SESSION.
THIS IS WHAT, HOW WE DID THESE THINGS EVEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE I SERVED FOR 14 YEARS, WE WOULD HAVE A SPECIAL 3 HOUR SESSION DEVOTED TO, TO THE BUDGET OR TO WHATEVER THE ITEM WAS THAT WE KNEW WAS GONNA TAKE EXTRA TIME.
[06:35:01]
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT HERE IN THE FUTURE POTENTIALLY SO THAT WE, WE DON'T FEEL...WE DON'T HAVE TO FEEL RUSHED AND THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T HAVE TO FEEL RUSHED.
- WELL, WE HAVE, THE MEETINGS IN JUNE ARE, ARE STUDY SESSIONS.
AND THEN TODAY WAS MEANT TO BE THAT WAY, BUT WE SPENT ALMOST 3 HOURS IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, TO THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TODAY AND GAVE THEIR TESTIMONY, YOU KNOW, VERY APPRECIATIVE I AT ONE POINT WAS IN TEARS LISTENING TO A YOUNG WOMAN WITH A BABY ON HER HIP.
WE DO NOT TAKE THESE, UM, CUTS.
AND THESE ARE IN SERVICES THAT ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
I SERVE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION.
OF COURSE, IT WAS A SURPRISE TO ME, JUST LIKE IT WAS TO THEM.
AND IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO BE GETTING EMAILS OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT THE COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF THE BUDGET FOR MHCAN.
THAT WAS... I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THAT WAS NOT A HAPPY MOMENT FOR ME.
SO IN THE FUTURE, IT WOULD JUST BE GOOD TO...
FOR THE SUPERVISORS TO HAVE A HEADS UP THAT SOMETHING IS COMING IF POSSIBLE.
AND OKAY WITH THAT, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO, HEARING MORE ABOUT BUDGET, UM, IN THE FUTURE.
- SO I, I, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I STILL HAVE SOME COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE THAT WE'RE GONNA FACE SOME PRETTY TOUGH TIMES HERE IN NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND PROBABLY A COUPLE YEARS.
SO I THINK THAT OUR COUNTY REALLY MUST REFLECT THE SHARED VALUES OF SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND THE WELLBEING OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AS WE CONTINUE RECOVERING FROM RECENT NATURAL DISASTERS, WITH ALMOST $90 MILLION IN FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS STILL PENDING, AND MORE THAN 50 MILLION IN UNFUNDED STORM DAMAGE, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS THAT PROTECT AND CONNECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T EVEN DISCUSS OUR OWN PERSONAL, DISTRICT PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR DISTRICTS.
BUT I DO URGE THAT FUNDING BE ALLOCATED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF PAULSEN ROAD, SPECIFICALLY TO RAISE THE ROADWAY, ELIMINATE SEASONAL FLOODING.
THIS ROAD IS A CRITICAL CONNECTOR TO OVER 4,000 RESIDENTS IN MY DISTRICT AND CONTINUED DELAYS LEAVE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS VULNERABLE.
PART OF MY REASONING FOR SUPPORTING SOME CHANGES IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT OR THE BATCH B THAT WE HAD WAS THAT FOLKS, IT, IT IS A CONGESTED ROAD ON GREEN VALLEY.
AND THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT AND AS YOU HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO PAULSEN, WHICH HALF THE YEAR IS CLOSED.
[PAUSE] WE MUST ALSO ADDRESS THE CONDITION OF CASSERLY ROAD, WHICH REMAINS AT SERIOUS RISK OF CLOSURE ONE DAY WITH JUST ONE MAJOR STORM.
THESE ARE NOT JUST TRANSPORTATION ROUTES, THEY'RE LIFELINES FOR FAMILIES, STUDENTS, WORKERS THAT DRIVE THE ECONOMY HERE IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE FACING SIGNIFICANT FISCAL CHALLENGES FROM THREATS TO FEDERAL FUNDING TO DECLINING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REVENUES.
[PAUSE] IN RESPONSE, WE'RE FOCUSING ON OUR RESOURCES ON POOR MANDATED SERVICES.
BUT EVEN IN DIFFICULT BUDGET YEARS, OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE MUST STILL REMAIN AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERY DECISION WE MAKE.
[PAUSE] THE HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY IS FACING A PROPOSED REDUCTION IN, OF ABOUT CLOSE TO $9 MILLION, AND THE ELIMINATION OF 74.4 FULL-TIME POSITIONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, 63 ARE NOT, UH, VAC-...
THEY, THEY'RE NOT VACANT, BUT 11 OF THOSE ARE OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
FOR THOSE POSITIONS THAT ARE, THAT ARE FILLED, WE NEED, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENSURE THAT THE AFFECTED EMPLOYEES ARE SUPPORTED AND THAT WE REALLY WORK TO KEEP THEM OR THEIR PROGRAMS FOR THEM WITHIN THE COUNTY.
[PAUSE] WHERE NECESSARY WE SHOULD EXTEND THEIR EMPLOYMENT TIMELINES THROUGH AT LEAST SEPTEMBER 2025 TO ENSURE FAIR, COMPASSIONATE AND A RESPONSIBLE TRANSITION.
SO I THINK WE'LL BE READY FOR A MOTION.
- SO I'LL MOVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADD TO THAT, THAT WE'RE PROVIDED OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION TO MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR THE X-RAY, LAB SERVICES, GEMMA HOUSE,
[06:40:03]
MHCAN, THE SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATOR, AND THE JUSTICE AND GENDER COMMISSION.[SILENCE] - MOTION FROM SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS AND A SECOND FROM SUPERVISOR KOENIG.
[SILENCE] - NINE, RIGHT? - UH-HUH.
[9. Consider report on impacts of Assembly Bill 1416 on the 2024 election cycle]
- NEXT ITEM ON AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 9.CONSIDER A REPORT OF THE IMPACTS OF ASSEMBLY BILL 1416 ON THE 2024 ELECTION CYCLE.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO GINA DE MARTINI-KUHNS SENIOR ADMINI-, ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] - GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR HERNANDEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M GINA DE MARTINI-KUHNS, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON ASSEMBLY BILL 1416 OR THE BALLOT DISCLOSE ACT AND ITS IMPACTS ON OUR LOCAL ELECTION PROCESSES AS DIRECTED BY THE BOARD.
AB 1416 AMENDED SECTIONS 303, 9050, 9051, 9053 AND 13282 AS WELL AS ADDED SECTION 9170 TO THE ELECTIONS CODE.
IT WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN 2022.
THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES LISTING THE SUPPORTERS AND, AND OPPONENTS OF THE, ON THE BALLOT ITSELF FOR STATEWIDE MEASURES.
IT GIVES THE COUNTIES THE OPTION TO DO THE SAME FOR LOCAL MEASURES OR TO OPT OUT.
THE LEGISLATION INTENDS TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY BY LISTING NONPROFITS, INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION OF PROPOSED MEASURES.
ITS IMPLEMENTATION, HOWEVER, COMES WITH SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL AND FISCAL IMPACTS.
PRINTING THIS INFORMATION WOULD REQUIRE MORE SPACE, CREATING LONGER BALLOT CARDS, WHICH INCREASES MAILING AND PRINTING EXPENSES IN ADDITION TO COMPLICATING BALLOT LOGISTICS.
FIRST SECTION 9170, SUBDIVISION D, "THE DECISION TO IMPLEMENT AB 1416 FOR LOCAL MEASURES IS UP TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS." [PAUSE] IN NOVEMBER, 2023, THE BOARD ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO OPT OUT OF AB 1416 FOR LOCAL MEASURES IN BOTH THE 2024 PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTIONS AND DIRECTED STAFF TO REPORT BACK ON ITS EFFECTS.
WE WORKED WITH THE COUNTY, COUNTY, THE COUNTY CLERK AND ELECT OF ELECTIONS TO EXAMINE HOW IMPLEMENTATION WOULD HAVE AFFECTED ELECTION OPERATIONS AND COSTS.
IN 2024, WE HAD A PRIMARY AND A GENERAL ELECTION.
FOR THE MARCH PRIMARY, THERE WAS 1 STATE MEASURE AND 8 LOCAL MEASURES.
WHILE A SECOND BALLOT CARD WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY, IMPLEMENTING AB 1416 WOULD HAVE REQUIRED APPROXIMATELY 48 ADDITIONAL STAFF HOURS AND $13,500 IN COSTS TO MANAGE BALLOT LAYOUT, TRANSLATIONS, AND QUALITY CONTROL.
IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION, THE BALLOT INCLUDED 10 STATE AND 17 LOCAL MEASURES.
THE COUNTY CLERK'S TEAM USED A 3-COLUMN LAYOUT TO OPTIMIZE SPACE ON THE BALLOT CARD.
IF AB 1416 HAD BEEN APPLIED TO LOCAL MEASURES, IT WOULD'VE ADDED MORE THAN 70 LINES OF ADDITIONAL TEXT AND REQUIRED A SECOND BALLOT CARD.
A 2-CARD BALLOT WOULD'VE COST AN ADDITIONAL $300,000 FOR PAPER PRINTING, MAILERS, AND POSTAGE.
STAFF TIME FOR TRAINING, PREPARATION, PROCESSING, AND CANVASSING WOULD'VE COST ANOTHER $150,000.
BOTH ELECTIONS WOULD'VE INCURRED SIGNIFICANT COSTS IF AB 1416 HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
AT THIS TIME, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT AB 1416 IMPROVES VOTER UNDERSTANDING OR ENGAGEMENT.
THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL VOTER CONFUSION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF POLITICAL ACTORS MANIPULATING THE SYSTEM TO MISLEAD VOTERS.
VOTER INFORMATION GUIDES ALREADY INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION...
ABOUT SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION OF THE MEASURES.
IF THE BOARD WISHES TO CONTINUE THIS PRACTICE, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS REPORT AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION TO STAFF TO RETURN WITH A RESOLUTION TO OPT OUT OF AB 1416, FOR LOCAL MEASURES PURSUANT TO ELECTION CODE 9170 SUBDIVISION D.
THE COUNTY CLERK, TRICIA WEBBER, IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
[06:45:02]
- DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? [SILENCE] - THANK YOU, BECKY STEINBRUNER.I THINK THE MORE INFORMATION WE CAN GIVE PEOPLE EASILY, THE BETTER.
I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO VOTE ONLY SEE THEIR BALLOT.
[PAUSE] I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRIED TO FIND INFORMATION, HAVE FOUND IT DIFFICULT.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DO A TEST, INCLUDING IT ON THE BALLOT, INCURRING THOSE COSTS, BUT TO THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE, TO THE BENEFIT OF THE VOTERS, TO BE WELL INFORMED OR BETTER INFORMED.
[SILENCE] - ANYONE ONLINE? [SILENCE] - I SEE NO SPEAKERS ONLINE, CHAIR.
- I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR, UM, ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
- I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE OPT-OUT AS REQUESTED.
[SILENCE] - SO, SO JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT.
YOU, YOU, YOU'RE MOVING THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS WITH THE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION OF STAFF TO RETURN WITH A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD OPT US OUT OF 1416 GOING FORWARD.
- OKAY, WE HAVE THAT? WE GOT A MOTION FROM SUPERVISOR DE SERPA AND A SECOND FROM SUPERVISOR KOENIG.
[10. Consider approving in concept an “Ordinance Amending Sections 5.60.020 and 5.60.090(A) of the Santa Cruz County Code Regarding Administration of Tobacco Retailing License Ordinance,” and take related actions]
NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER, NUMBER 10.CONSIDER APPROVING IN CONCEPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 5.6.020 AND 5.60.090 A OF THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CODE REGARDING ADMINISTRATION OF TOBACCO RETAILING, LICENSES, ORDINANCE, AND TAKE ALL RELATED ACTIONS.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO LIEUTENANT NICK BALDRIGE FOR THE PRESENTATION.
- GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR, UM, BOARD, MY NAME IS NICK BALDRIGE.
I'M WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I'M HERE FOR THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO, UH, SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CODE 5.6.
SO THIS AMENDMENT IS SPECIFIC TO 5.60.020 AND 090 A.
ULTIMATELY, IT RELATES TO THE TOBACCO RETAILING LICENSE ORDINANCE.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THIS ORDINANCE, TO THOSE 2 SECTIONS, UH, AUTHORIZE A COMPLIANCE OFFICER, WHICH IS DEFINED AS A COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMPLOYEE DESIGNATED BY THE SHERIFF TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF 5.60, TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH AND IMPLEMENT THE COUNTY TOBACCO RETAILING LICENSE ORDINANCE UNDER 5.60.
THE AMENDMENTS REMOVE "LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER" FROM THE DEFINITIONS, UM, SECTION UNDER 5.60.020, AND REPLACE REFERENCES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER UNDER 5.60.090, WITH COMPLIANCE OFFICER.
"ENSURING THAT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS THE FLEXIBILITY TO DESIGNATE PERSONNEL AS NEEDED TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE TOBACCO RETAILING LICENSE ORDINANCE EFFECTIVELY." THE AMENDMENTS FOLLOW BEST PRACTICES AND REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT, ENSURE THE COMPLIANCE MEASURES ARE EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTED AND BETTER ALIGNED WITH GRANT FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? [SILENCE] SEEING NONE, ANYTHING ONLINE? - I SEE NO SPEAKERS ONLINE, CHAIR.
THE COMPLIANCE OFFICER, DO THEY COME FROM HEALTH SERVICES, CDI OR FROM THE SHERIFFS? - THEY'RE EMPLOYEES OF THE SHERIFFS OFFICE.
I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, OR A MOTION? - YEAH, THIS JUST SEEMS LIKE KIND OF A CLEANUP ITEM THAT'S GONNA MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU ALL TO DO THIS AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE A SWORN OFFICER BE THE ONE WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THAT.
SO I'M HAPPY TO MOVE THE RECOMMENDED ACTION.
- WE GOT A MOTION FROM SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS AND A SECOND FROM SUPERVISOR KOENIG.
CAN WE TAKE ROLL CALL? - SUPERVISOR DE SERPA. - AYE.
[11. Consider approving in concept “An Ordinance Amending and Restating Chapter 2.14 of the Santa Cruz County Code Regarding the Director of the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure” and “An Ordinance Adding Chapter 2.15 to the Santa Cruz County Code to Define the Legal Authorities of the Director of the Department of General Services”, and take related actions]
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 11.CONSIDER APPROVING IN CONCEPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND RESTATING CHAPTERS 2.14 OF THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CODE REGARDING THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTERS 2.15 TO THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CODE TO DEFINE THE LEGAL AUTHORITIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES
[06:50:04]
AND TAKE ALL RELATED ACTIONS.I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MICHAEL BEATON, GENERAL SERVICES DIRECTOR, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
MICHAEL BEATON, DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES.
THIS ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE TRANSFER OF CAPITAL PROJECTS AND RURAL PROPERTIES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CDI TO GENERAL SERVICES, JULY 1ST, 2024.
RECOMMENDED ACTION ITEM NUMBER 1, IS THE APPROVAL IN CONCEPT OF AMENDING AND RESTATING COUNTY ORDINANCE SECTION 2.14 RELATED TO THE AUTHORITY THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY VESTED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THE CHANGES IN THIS ORDINANCE IS THE CHANGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE APPROPRIATE TITLE CHANGE, AS WELL AS, MOVING THE AUTHORITY THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY VESTED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF CDI OUT OF THAT ORDINANCE SECTION AND WITH THE CREATION OF ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE AUTHORITY VESTED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES TO BASICALLY TRANSFER THE AUTHORITY THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF THE RURAL PROPERTIES UNIT AND CAPITAL PROJECTS UNIT.
ACTION ITEM NUMBER 3 IS JUST TO RETURN TO THE BOARD FOR A SECOND READING, UH, MAY 20TH, 2025.
AND NUMBER FOUR IS JUST TO DIRECT THE CLERK OF THE BOARD, PURSUANT TO NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 25124.
AND WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
- ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WISHING TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? [SILENCE] - THANK YOU.
I READ THIS AND WHAT I SAW WAS A STRIKEOUT UNDERLINED VERSION FOR THE CODE THAT APPLIES TO THE DIRECTOR OF CDI, BUT I DID NOT SEE A SIMILAR STRIKEOUT UNDERLINED FOR THE ADDITION OF WHAT WOULD NOW BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES.
SO IT'S UNCLEAR TO THE PUBLIC WHAT EXACTLY IS HAPPENING, WHAT IS BEING TAKEN OFF FROM CDI IS CLEAR, BUT HOW IS THAT BEING ALL TRANSFERRED OVER TO, OR IF IT IS ALL BEING TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES? AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION OF TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL ADDRESS IT.
- CHAIR, I CAN, I CAN PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THAT.
WE DON'T DO A STRIKEOUT UNDERLINED VERSION WHEN WE'RE JUST ADDING A NEW PROVISION TO THE COUNTY CODE BECAUSE THAT'S CONTAINED IN THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE ITSELF.
ANYBODY ONLINE? - WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS ONLINE, CHAIR.
- WITH THAT, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
- I'LL MOVE THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS, 2.15 IS COMPLETELY NEW.
NO STRIKETHROUGH UNDERLINE NECESSARY BECAUSE IT'S, I MEAN, IT COULD ALL BE AN UNDERLINE, BUT IT'S NEW.
- SO WE HAVE A MOTION WITH SUPERVISOR KOENIG.
[PAUSE] NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER, YES, 12.
[12. Hold public hearing to consider proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Benefit Assessment rates for County Service Area No. 3, Aptos Seascape, continue the public hearing to June 24, 2025, to allow for tabulation and certification of ballots, and take related actions]
HOLD A, HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 BENEFIT ASSESSMENT RATES FOR COUNTY SERVICE AREA NUMBER 3, APTOS SEASCAPE.CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO JUNE 24TH, 2025 TO ALLOW FOR TABULATION AND CERTIFICATION OF BALLOTS AND TAKE ALL RELATED ACTIONS.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHRISTINE HICKS, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER.
- THANK YOU, CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS.
- IT GOT TOO LATE, SO I'M TAKING THIS ONE.
BUT MATT MACHADO, YOUR CDI DIRECTOR.
SO THAT IN BEFORE YOU IS THE COUNTY SERVICE AREA NUMBER 3.
IT'S IN THE APTOS SEASCAPE AREA.
THIS IS THEIR ELECTION INCREASE, THEIR BENEFIT ASSESSMENT FOR '25-'26.
THIS CSA CONSISTS OF 1500 PARCELS.
TODAY THEIR ASSESSMENTS RANGE FROM $50 TO $400 PER YEAR.
THE CSA HAS PROPOSED TO DOUBLE THEIR ASSESSMENTS, WHICH IS REAL CLOSE TO AN INFLATIONARY INCREASE.
THE LAST TIME THEY HAD ANY TYPE OF AN INCREASE WAS 1996.
AND, UM, SO BALLOTS BASED UPON THEIR, THEIR DESIRE TO INCREASE THEIR OWN ASSESSMENT, BALLOTS WERE MAILED TO THE PARCELS ON FEBRUARY 11TH OF THIS YEAR.
AND, UH, IF PASSED THE ELECTION WOULD INCREASE THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT REVENUE FROM ABOUT 81,000 TO ABOUT $162,000 PER YEAR FOR THE, FOR THE CSA.
THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS, UH, TODAY, ARE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR ANY OBJECTIONS, TO REQUEST THE SUBMITTAL OF THE BALLOTS, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE HEARING, AND TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO JUNE 24TH TO ALLOW US TIME FOR TABULATION AND CERTIFICATION
[06:55:01]
OF THE, OF THE VOTES.AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
- IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THIS ITEM? [SILENCE] - THANK YOU.
I WAS INVOLVED WITH MY FRIENDS WHO AT THAT TIME LIVED IN CSA 3, UH, 3 YEARS AGO WHEN THIS SIMILAR ACTION WAS PUT FORTH AND IT FAILED.
SO WHAT I WANNA KNOW IS, UM...
WHAT IS THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR CSA 3 NOW? THAT WAS A PROBLEM.
MY FRIEND NO LONGER LIVES THERE, BUT SHE GOT A BALLOT IN HER NEW RESIDE-, HER NEW LOCATION.
AND WHAT I WANNA KNOW IS THE GOVERNANCE.
AND THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HOW IT WOULD BE SPENT, ABOUT HOW THE NUMBERS CAME ABOUT, AND HOW IT WOULD BE SPENT AND MANAGED IF IT WERE TO PASS.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ONLINE? - I SEE NO SPEAKERS ONLINE, CHAIR.
- WITH THAT, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, OR ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
- SO, DO WE NEED A MOTION ON THIS OR OPEN A HEARING? - WELL, IT WAS, UH, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN, AND THEN TAKE THE ACTION.
- SO WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
- [INAUDIBLE] - THE ACTION WOULD BE TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO JUNE 24TH.
SO THERE WOULD BE SOME ACTION REQUIRED HERE.
- DID WE EVER OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? YEAH, WE DID, OKAY.
[PAUSE] AND SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING UNTIL JUNE 24TH, 2025, TO ALLOW FOR THE TABULATION AND CERTIFICATION OF BALLOTS.
- WE HAVE A MOTION FROM DE SERPA AND A SECOND FROM CUMMINGS.
[PAUSE] NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 13.
CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SUBCOMMITTEE COMPOSED OF SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS AND DE SERPA TO REVIEW THE COLLECTIVE RESULTS OF EVIDENCE-BASED CORE, INVESTMENTS FUNDING PROCESS AND TAKE RELATED ACTIONS.
[13. Consider authorizing the establishment of a subcommittee composed of Supervisor Cummings and Supervisor De Serpa to review the Collective of Results and Evidence-based (CORE) Investments funding process, and take related actions]
AND ALSO, WE HAVE ITEM 6.2 WITH THIS THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT.I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS AND SUPERVISOR DE SERPA FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THE ITEM BEFORE US IS A PROPOSAL TO CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE COMPRISED OF MYSELF AND SUPERVISOR DE SERPA TO REVIEW THE CORE PROCESS AND TO BRING BACK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISED SAFETY NET SERVICE FUNDING PROGRAM ON OR BEFORE THE SECOND BOARD MEETING IN AUGUST OF 2026.
I, AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND NOW AS A COUNTY SUPERVISOR, HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CORE PROCESS FOR MULTIPLE ROUNDS.
AND, UM, IN PARTICULAR THIS YEAR, WHEN WE WERE GOING, OR LAST YEAR, SORRY, WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE CORE PROCESS, THERE WERE A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED BY MANY OF THE NONPROFITS THAT HAD APPLIED FOR SOME OF THE FUNDING.
AND THERE WERE A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT I PERSONALLY HAD AS WELL.
IN PARTICULAR, UM, SOME FOLKS HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCESS AND HOW OVERLY BUREAUCRATIC IT WAS.
FOLKS HAD TO INVEST IN, ESPECIALLY SMALLER NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY, HAD TO INVEST IN GRANT MAKERS AND GRANT WRITERS WHO THEN WROTE GRANTS.
AND IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS AND HOW TRANSPARENT IT WAS, MANY FOLKS HAD CONCERNS WITH THIS, MYSELF IN PARTICULAR, DUE TO THE FACT THAT BOARD MEMBERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO READ ANY OF THE APPLICATIONS.
WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO SEE THE SCORING AND WHY CERTAIN PROGRAMS WERE PROPOSED OR DENIED.
AND AS A RESULT, UM, SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY WERE DOING VERY WELL WERE DENIED FUNDING.
AND I'LL JUST GIVE AN EXAMPLE, AND IT'S PARTIALLY WHY I PULLED THE ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 6.2, BECAUSE WITHIN THAT ITEM, IT IDENTIFIES THE TEEN KITCHEN PROJECT AS BEING AN EXAMPLE OF A, OF, OF A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT HAS BENEFITED FROM THIS FUNDING.
BUT TURNS OUT THAT THAT PROGRAM WAS NOT FUNDED IN THIS NEXT CYCLE OF CORE.
AND SO FOR ME, THAT'S A BIG CONCERN.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S DOING VERY WELL.
IT'S BEING HIGHLIGHTED AS A PILLAR PROGRAM, AND YET IT WAS NOT, UM, IT WASN'T, UM, IDENTIFIED AS A PROGRAM TO BE SCORED IN THAT PROCESS-, IT WASN'T A, A PROGRAM IDENTIFIED TO BE FUNDED IN THE NEXT ROUND OF CORE.
AND FOR US, FOR ME IN PARTICULAR, AS A FORMER, UH, NONPROFIT DIRECTOR, AND AS A FORMER CO-FOUNDER OF MULTIPLE NONPROFITS,
[07:00:03]
YOU KNOW, FOR ME IT WAS REALLY, I REALLY JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHY IS IT THAT IN THIS CYCLE, THESE PROGRAMS, CERTAIN PROGRAMS ARE GETTING FUNDED AND NOW IN THE NEW CYCLE THEY'RE NOT.AND THAT LACK OF OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EVEN JUST REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS AND SEE THE SCORING AND SEE THE COMMENTS AND COMPARE, I THINK THAT THAT'S A, A FAILURE IN THAT PROCESS.
AND, AND I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO CORE.
BUT I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO BETTER.
ANOTHER ISSUE IS THAT, AND I THINK SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ MENTIONED IT AND WHEN WE WERE HAVING OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN THESE, WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS INITIALLY CREATED WAY BACK AND LIKE, I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER THE '60S OR THE '70S YOU KNOW, IT REALLY WAS FOR CRITICAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. AND GIVEN WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THE CUTS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE RECEIVING, IT REALLY IS CRITICAL THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS GONNA BE A SAFETY NET PROGRAM THAT'S REALLY FOCUSING ON THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES.
AND I THINK, UM, SUPERVISOR KOENIG AND I BOTH MADE SOME COMMENTS AROUND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS WERE BEING FUNDED AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WERE BEING CUT, JUST BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WHILE SOME WERE NICE PROGRAMS TO HAVE THAT WERE GETTING FUNDED, THERE WERE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, YOU KNOW, FOOD PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS THAT WERE BEING CUT.
AND, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA RECEIVE FUNDING IN THE, IN, IN THIS NEXT ROUND OF CORE.
AND SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE A NEW BOARD, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RETHINK THIS PROCESS.
AND, AND I THINK THAT GIVEN MY INTEREST IN THIS AND I WAS ABLE TO REACH OUT TO SUPERVISOR DE SERPA WHO ALSO EXPRESSED INTEREST IN IT, WAS RECOMMENDING THAT WE BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO, UM, SUPERVISOR DE SERPA IF SHE HAS ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS.
- NO, I THINK YOU DID A NICE JOB SUMMARIZING THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD BOTH FROM THE COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY SOME OF MY OWN CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCESS.
AND SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO RECEIVE THE REPORT.
RIGHT, FROM, FROM OUR COLLEAGUE RANDY MORRIS, ABOUT HOW HE THINKS IT'S WORKING TO DATE.
[SILENCE] - CHAIR, [INAUDIBLE] PROCESS POINT, IS IT INTEGRATING OUR STAFF REPORT WITH WHAT WE JUST HEARD FROM THE DISTRICT 3? 'CAUSE I COULD SUMMARIZE WHAT OUR REPORT IS, AND THEN I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE BEING PUT TOGETHER AS A PACKAGE, ONE PACKAGE DISCUSSION.
- SO ARE YOU ASKING THE QUESTIONS, OR YOU JUST WANT 'EM TO...? - I DON'T, I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER TO SAY.
- YEAH, I, I, UNLESS YOU NEED A MOTION.
- AND CHAIR, THE REASON I'M ASKING IS THERE'S SOME ITEMS IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT ARE UNRELATED TO THE BOARD ITEM.
- RANDY, CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON? THANK YOU.
- YEAH, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT NEED A VOTE FROM YOUR BOARD TODAY THAT ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE BOARD ITEM.
THERE'S ONE ITEM IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT OVERLAPS WITH AND IS, I'M GONNA CALL IT, SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE BOARD ITEM.
I THINK THOSE TWO PROBABLY, IF THIS IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD, WOULD PROBABLY BE DISCUSSED TOGETHER AND THEN YOU COULD MAKE A VOTE.
SO THAT ALL LEADS TO, DO YOU WANT ME TO DO A SUMMARY OF WHAT 6.2 IS AND THEN THERE CAN BE A FULL DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE...
- DO YOU WANNA SEPARATE 'EM? - [INAUDIBLE] - I JUST, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON 6.2.
I WAS HOPING TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM, BUT I DO HAVE, UH, UH, COMMENTS ON 6.2 AS WELL.
SO I WENT THROUGH THE ANNUAL REPORT AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO IT.
WITHIN THE REPORT, IT SAID THAT THERE WAS...
I, I JUST FOUND THIS AFTER I'D PULLED IT, BUT I DID FIND A LINE WHERE IT SAID THAT IF WE WANTED TO SEE THE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM REPORTS IN TERMS OF THE, THE PROGRESS AND THE OUTCOMES, THAT THERE WAS A LINK.
AND I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THAT.
INITIALLY MY QUESTION WAS GONNA BE, WHY DON'T WE HAVE THOSE REPORTS? BUT THEN WHEN I SAW THAT LANGUAGE IN HERE, I...
AND THEN AFTER I PULLED IT, I REALIZED THAT, I DID... I THEN WENT THROUGH IT AGAIN AND COULDN'T FIND THE LINKS TO THAT.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT'S IN THE REPORT IS HELPFUL IN A LOT OF WAYS, IN TERMS OF DEMOGRAPHICS.
BUT I'M REALLY TRYING TO GET INTO LIKE, WHAT WAS THE PROGRAM OFFERING? HOW DID THEY ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA DO, IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED, THE TARGET AUDIENCES? AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND I JUST COULDN'T FIND IT IN HERE.
- SO IF I CAN CONFIRM, I UNDERSTAND IF THERE...
IF IT'S NOT CLEAR IN, THAT IS 1 OF 3 ITEMS IN 6.2.
WHICH IS A BOARD DIRECTIVE TO GIVE AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE CURRENT CORE CONTRACTS.
IF THERE IS A REFERENCE TO A LINK, THAT'S NOT CLEAR WE CAN GET BACK TO EACH BOARD OFFICER TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR.
IF THERE'S A HYPERLINK THAT'S DEAD OR SOMETHING, WE'LL MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.
I DON'T HAVE THAT DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THE DISCONNECT IS, BUT WE CAN CIRCLE BACK TO YOU TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAR.
- SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, DO THOSE REPORTS EXIST FOR THE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF THEIR OUTPUTS? - YES, WE GET A REPORT FROM EVERY GRANTEE EACH YEAR.
AND THEN ITEM 1 OF THE 3 STAFF ITEMS IN FRONT OF YOU, THE ONE YOU'RE SPEAKING TO IS THE COMPILATION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT.
AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, OVER 40 GRANTS.
BUT YES, BEHIND THAT IS EVERY SINGLE GRANTEE SUBMITS A REPORT TO US, WHICH WE HAVE.
I THINK IF WE CAN JUST HAVE THAT AVAILABLE, 'CAUSE THAT WASN'T CLEAR
[07:05:01]
AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE LANGUAGE IN THERE.BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT, THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I PULLED AND I WAS GONNA PROVIDE THAT DIRECTION.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT THAT EXISTS.
- YEAH, AND IF IT'S NOT CLEAR, WE'LL, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK AND MAKE SURE IT'S MORE CLEAR AND ACCESSIBLE.
- AND CHAIR HERNANDEZ, I JUST WANNA MAKE, I'M SORRY I'M NOT PROCESSING THIS.
- I GUESS WE'RE DOING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
- OKAY, SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, I HAVE 2 ITEMS THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE BOARD REPORT THAT I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD IS CLEAR WHAT THE VOTE IS.
THERE'S AN OVERLAPPING ITEM WHICH IS WE DEFER TO THE BOARD HOW TO AS A BOARD, GIVE DIRECTION FOR THE FUTURE OF CORE.
WE JUST, WE JUST HAVE A DIFFERENCE ON TIMING OF WHEN TO DO THAT.
THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IS OUR BOARD REPORT...
OUR BOARD STAFF REPORT SAYS THAT WE SHOULD START THIS CONVERSATION.
WE WANT TO START THIS CONVERSATION.
WE WANT BOARD TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONVERSATION.
THAT WE SHOULD START THIS CONVERSATION AFTER THE STATE AND FEDERAL BUDGET SETTLE, BECAUSE THE FUTURE IN FRONT OF US IS LIKELY GONNA BE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT AND WE THINK THE LAUNCH...
THE LAUNCHING POINT OF HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH PRECIOUS GENERAL FUND MONEY, WE BELIEVE, AS STAFF, IS BEST TIMED WITH AFTER WE KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE AND THAT WE SHOULD JUST NOT START IT UNTIL AFTER THIS FEDERAL AND STATE BUDGET SETTLES.
THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT I READ IS THE BOARD ITEM AND OUR ITEM, WHICH IS WHEN TO START A COMMITTEE.
WE JUST RECOMMEND TO DO IT AFTER WE UNDERSTAND THE FEDERAL AND STATE BUDGET.
'CAUSE THE LANDSCAPE COULD BE SO DRAMATIC, WHAT YOU WANNA DO WITH THE FUTURE OF THIS PROGRAM MIGHT CHANGE DRAMATICALLY, 'CAUSE THE WORLD IS SHIFTING SO QUICKLY.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE ON THE 2 ITEMS, THE STAFF REPORT AND THE BOARD REPORT, AS I, AS I READ IT, WHEN TO START THE COMMITTEE.
[SILENCE] - COULD, COULD I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? SO, SO PRACTICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT YOU WOULD ALIGN THE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE WITH THE DECEMBER 16TH DATE FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF CORE LESSONS LEARNED FRAMEWORK? - THAT WAS WHAT WAS IN THE STAFF REPORT, WHICH IS FOR STAFF...
THIS WAS BEFORE THE BOARD ITEM TO CREATE A COMMITTEE.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE SUPPORT THE BOARD BEING INVOLVED IN WHATEVER WAY YOU WANT IN PARTNERING WITH STAFF TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THE BOARD ITEM IS TO START IT AND REPORT BACK IN AUGUST.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE CEO PRESENTED ABOUT THE BUDGET, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, WE ARE GONNA BE...
- CAN, CAN I CLARIFY SOMETHING? - YEAH.
- THE DIRECTION IS TO COME BACK IN AUGUST OF 2026.
THE DIRECTION ALSO DIRECTS STAFF TO WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE? - YEP.
- SO I AM RECOMMENDING... WE ARE GONNA BE BURIED, ABSOLUTELY CONSUMED IN ANALYSIS OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS.
WE WOULD PROPOSE THAT THE BOARD SUPPORT HSD STAFF WORKING ON ANALYSIS OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL BUDGET IMPACTS GET THROUGH THAT, THEN WE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THE FUTURE BUDGET LOOKS LIKE, AND THEN STAFF WHATEVER COMMITTEE YOU WANNA HAVE, BUT TO NOT START THE WORK BEFORE.
- I, I WILL JUST ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEANS THAT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO START WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS, AND THAT CAN START, I DON'T SEE WHY THAT COULDN'T START EARLY, SOONER THAN LATER.
I MEAN, I, I GUESS I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM IN TERMS OF RESOURCES, AND BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE, UM, FEDERAL AND STATE BUDGET.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S, THAT'S HEARD BY US, YOU KNOW.
BUT I DON'T SEE THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH US ESTABLISHING THE SUBCOMMITTEE NOW.
SO IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING [CROSSTALK]....
- I THINK THAT JUST GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO START WORKING TOGETHER, AND ESPECIALLY FOR ME COMING UP TO SPEED.
BEING ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND, I MEAN, I GUESS WE COULD DO THAT ANYWAY REALLY, BUT...
- I JUST READ YOUR ITEM THAT HAD A SECOND DIRECTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE.
IF THAT IS THE REQUEST, AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THIS IS A COUNSELOR CEO QUESTION, IF THIS IS GONNA BE A BROWN ACT GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, THERE IS ADMINISTRATIVE TIME AND WORK DONE TO STAFF A FORMAL COMMITTEE VOTED ON BY THE BOARD.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE HAVE TO PUT THAT STAFF TIME IN TO SUPPORT THE COMMITTEE.
THAT IS STAFF TIME WE WOULD RECOMMEND WE FOCUS ON ANALYZING, INCLUDING DIRECTION EARLIER TODAY, ANALYZE OPTIONS FOR THE BOARD ON THE BIGGER SETS OF CUTS THAT ARE COMING.
SO THAT'S MY QUESTION IS ARE YOU EXPECTING AND ASKING US TO STAFF THE WORK YOU DO BETWEEN NOW AND WHENEVER? - YES.
AND I THINK THAT WE CAN SIT DOWN WITH YOU ALL AND WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT LIKE TIMING AND CALENDAR, LIKE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, IT SOUNDS LIKE...
AND I, AND I HEAR WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM ON THIS, BUT IN ORDER FOR US AT PER THE NEW, UM, THE NEW GUIDANCE POLICY THAT THE BOARD VOTED ON AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, WE CAN'T WORK WITH STAFF MORE THAN...
ANYTHING MORE THAN 8 HOURS UNLESS WE GET THE BOARD'S APPROVAL.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS TO, TO THE BOARD TODAY SO THAT WE CAN GET THE BOARD APPROVAL, WE CAN WORK OUT THE TIMING.
AND WE UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO... AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE UNREASONABLE ABOUT THIS,
[07:10:02]
BUT WE HAVE TO GET DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD JUST TO EVEN WORK WITH STAFF.AND SO I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A MEETING AND LOOK AT WHAT THE CALENDAR CAN LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF OUR...
BUT THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S EFFECTIVE THAT SUPERVISOR KOENIG AND I HAVE DONE AS IT RELATED TO TOBACCO WASTE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE OTHER PARTNERS BECAUSE THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ IS INVOLVED IN THIS TOO.
WE MAY NEED TO REACH OUT AND HAVE MEETINGS WITH THEM TO DETERMINE IN THE NEXT CORE CYCLE DO THEY WANNA BE INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY DID EXPRESS AT THIS...
AT LAST YEAR'S MEETING THAT THEY WEREN'T SURE THAT THEY WANTED TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE COUNTY.
SO IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO START WORKING ON THINGS, GETTING SUPERVISOR DE SERPA UP TO SPEED, US STARTING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ISSUES WE WANT TO ADDRESS AND IT GIVES US TIME TO PULL OURSELVES TOGETHER SO THAT WHEN THE- THE TIME COMES THAT WE WORK WITH STAFF, THEN YOU ALL KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND WHAT WE WANNA WORK ON.
- YEAH, JUST TO, JUST TO CLARIFY, I THINK THERE'S A DISCONNECT HERE.
THIS IS A TEMPORARY AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE BOARD MADE UP OF 2 BOARD MEMBERS.
SO IT'S NOT A BROWN ACT LEGISLATIVE BODY.
THERE WON'T BE BROWN ACT MEETINGS.
AND WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE TWO SUPERVISORS ON THE COMMITTEE JUST WANNA GET TO WORK RIGHT NOW AND THEY WANT THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD TO DO THAT.
AND I'M SURE THEY WILL BE RECEPTIVE TO YOUR CONCERNS AROUND HOW MUCH STAFF SUPPORT YOU CAN PROVIDE IMMEDIATELY, GIVEN THE CONSTRAINTS THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN OF.
I'LL JUST WAIT TILL FOR THE DISCUSSION.
I DO AT WHATEVER POINT, CHAIR, WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR THE 2 ITEMS THAT NEED A, A VOTE OF THE BOARD ON OUR 6.2.
[SILENCE] - [INAUDIBLE] - AND YOU HAVE, WAIT, WE HAVE MORE COMMENT FROM DE SERPA? - I'M SORRY.
AM I MAKING A MOTION NOW TO ESTABLISH THE...
- NO, NO, WE HAVEN'T EVEN GONE TO PUBLIC.
- SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ HAS HER HAND RAISED.
I JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME COMMENTS AND PERSPECTIVE ON THIS TOPIC.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT, SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS, IT'S A NEW BOARD AND SO I HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE CORE FUNDING PROCESS.
AND I BRING A LOT OF REALLY RELEVANT EXPERIENCE TO THIS.
THE CORE PROCESS WAS ESTABLISHED TO MAKE NONPROFIT FUNDING MORE TRANSPARENT, MORE EQUITABLE AND COMPETITIVE AND OUTCOMES-DRIVEN.
AND FOR LARGE PART, THE GOALS WERE SUBSTANTIALLY ACHIEVED, EVEN THOUGH I AGREE THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR REFINEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT, AS IS THE CASE IN ANY PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, MY EXPERIENCE WITH CORE GOES BACK NEARLY A DECADE.
THE ORGANIZATION THAT I LED PREVIOUSLY USED TO RECEIVE THE LARGEST ALLOCATION OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FUNDING BACK IN THE OLD MODEL, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THAT AS THE CEO OF THAT ORGANIZATION, I HAD THE MOST TO LOSE.
BUT WHEN THE CALL FOR REFORM CAME, I SAID, "YES, I SUPPORT CHANGE.
LET'S PUT MY FUNDING ON THE TABLE BECAU-..." EVEN THOUGH IT MEANS THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S A CHANCE THAT I COULD LOSE FUNDING BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY VALUES OF EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION AND A COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND GREATER TRANSPARENCY AS TO LIKE, WHO AND WHY, YOU KNOW, FUNDING IS DISTRIBUTED TO OUR REALLY IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS.
SINCE THAT TIME I'VE SERVED ON VARIOUS CORE STEERING COMMITTEES, I'VE PARTICIPATED IN WHAT FEELS LIKE DOZENS OF MEETINGS, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS.
I'VE APPLIED FOR CORE FUNDING.
I'VE REPORTED ON CORE FUNDING AS A GRANTEE.
I'VE APPLIED AND NOT RECEIVED CERTAIN GRANTS.
AND I'VE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH NONPROFITS WHO HAVE NAVIGATED THE PROCESS.
AND, SO I DO KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT THE CORE SYSTEM IS NOT PERFECT.
I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT IT IS BY ANY MEANS.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT IT'S EXTREMELY RIGOROUS AND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY WAS PUT INTO DEVELOPING THE PROCESS THAT STANDS.
AND WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF VOICES OF CONCERN, THERE ARE ALSO DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT, THAT ARE MORE SATISFIED WITH THE PROCESS, THAT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING AND THAT ARE DOING REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF WITH THE FUNDING.
AND SO I JUST HAVE TO NAME THAT 'CAUSE WHEN I READ THE DISCUSSION IN THE BOARD ITEM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY CRITICAL OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME VOICES THAT ARE MISSING IN THE BOARD LETTER THAT WAS PRESENTED.
THAT SAID, I, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ACTION.
AND I, I DO... I WANNA THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS AND SUPERVISOR DE SERPA FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE THIS ON.
BUT I, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE HAVING BEEN IN THE TRENCHES FOR YEARS, I CAN SAY WITH COMPLETE SINCERITY THAT THIS WILL NOT BE EASY.
WHEN PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE WINNERS AND LOSERS.
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, NO MATTER WHAT THE PROCESS IS,
[07:15:01]
NO MATTER HOW WELL DESIGNED IT IS, YOU CAN'T ELIMINATE THAT FEELING.AND SO, I, I JUST WANNA WARN YOU THAT THIS WORK IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
I FULLY SUPPORT TAKING A THOUGHTFUL LOOK AT HOW TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE CORE PROCESS, MAKING IT EVEN MORE CLEAR AND EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE.
BUT I, I REALLY HOPE THAT IT'S DONE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FACT THAT THERE, THERE'S...
A LOT OF REALLY GOOD WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN THIS WORK SO FAR.
AND- AND I HOPE THAT ISN'T LOST IN THE NEW PROCESS.
AND, UM, AND I ALSO, YOU KNOW, AND THANK YOU FOR THE CLARITY ON THE TIMING.
AFTER I READ THE ITEM, I, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT KIND OF PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE AS IT RELATED TO FEDERAL IMPACTS AND CHANGES THAT MIGHT COMPLETELY CHANGE OUR OUTLOOK OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF MONTHS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S FLEXIBILITY TO THAT WITH YOUR TIMING.
AND SO, SO I DO SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IN FRONT OF US.
AND, UM, AND I, I APPRECIATE JUST YOU GIVING ME THE TIME TO SHARE THIS NOW BECAUSE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE TO UNDERSTAND ONCE THIS AD HOC IS COM-...
IS DEVELOPED, I CAN'T GO BACK AND TALK TO SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS OR SUPERVISOR DE SERPA ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AS A CORE GRANTEE OR A CORE STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER UNTIL IT COMES BACK BEFORE THE FULL BOARD.
SO, UM, IT FEELS REALLY IMPORTANT TO, TO SHARE THAT PERSPECTIVE TODAY.
- SO IF, IF I MAY, IF I THINK YOU'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, IS THIS A GOOD TIME TO SHARE WITH YOU THE TWO OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE UP FOR VOTE BY YOUR BOARD? SO THERE'S A FULL UNDERSTANDING FROM THE PUBLIC? - YES, THE ONES THAT ARE ON 6.2? - YES. - OKAY.
THERE ARE 3 ITEMS AND I DO WANNA SAY, SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS, YOU SPEAK AND THE WORLD MOVES.
I HAVE MULTIPLE STAFF WHO'VE BEEN TEXTING ME SAYING IT'S ON PAGE 22.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THE LINK DIDN'T WORK YESTERDAY, BUT IT'S BEEN TESTED BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE AS WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING.
AND THAT LINK DOES INDEED OPEN UP TO ALL THE REPORTS.
SO APOLOGIES IF MAYBE THE LINK WASN'T WORKING OR SOMETHING.
BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MY STAFF AND 2 PEOPLE HAVE CHECKED THE LINK BEFORE I SAID WHAT I'M SAYING NOW THAT.
SO THAT'S THE ITEM, AND THAT IS AN ACCEPTANCE FILE OF THE YEARLY REPORT, AND I BELIEVE IT DOES HAVE THE ATTACHMENTS IN PAGE 22 BASED ON SOME TESTING.
THE SECOND ITEM THAT WE NEED YOUR BOARD TO VOTE ON IS AN MOU WITH THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ.
THREE CYCLES AGO, THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ HELD THEIR OWN CONTRACTS WITH THEIR OWN STAFF DOLLARS, AND WE HELD SEPARATE ONES.
SO CBOS HAD TO HAVE TWO CONTRACTS.
THIS CURRENT CYCLE AND THE ONE PROPOSED FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS IS MERGING AND BLENDING THE MONEY SO THAT THE CBOS ONLY HAVE TO HAVE 1 CONTRACT.
THE MOU IS THE CITY AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF THEIR GENERAL FUND TO US, AND WE BRAID THE MONEY TOGETHER BASED ON THE VOTE OF THE BOARD AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
THAT MOU IS IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
AT THEIR NEXT HEARING IN 2 WEEKS.
IF YOU VOTE TO SUPPORT IT, OUR LEGAL COUNSELS APPROVED IT, THEIR CITY ATTORNEYS APPROVED IT, THE STAFF...
SO IT, IT'S JUST A REFRESH OF THE MOU THAT'S IN PLACE TODAY TO ALLOW US TO RECEIVE THEIR MONEY.
AND THEN THE THIRD ITEM WAS THE RECOMMENDATION TO DELAY, UH, START...
I THINK I HAVE MUCH BETTER CLARITY.
THIS ISN'T BROWN ACT GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS MY MISUNDERSTANDING, WHICH WOULD BE A LOT OF STAFF TIME.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'LL JUST ORGANICALLY BE INVOLVED IN WHATEVER DISCUSSIONS YOU NEED TO BE ABOUT WHATEVER.
AND, UM, I DO WANNA JUST SAY FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT DEGREES OF HISTORY.
I GOT HERE AND I WAS TOLD, BE CAREFUL.
THIS PROGRAM IS UNBELIEVABLY CHARGED.
AND I, MY, MY PREDECESSORS TOLD ME THERE WAS A MULTIPLE, 2-3 VOTES THAT COULD NOT MOVE THE PROGRAM FOR WHAT IT WAS TO WHAT IT IS.
IT THEN BECAME A 3-2 VOTE TO MOVE IT.
BUT BY THE TIME I GOT HERE, IT WAS 5-0 VOTES BACK TO BACK AND IT BECAME 4-1.
SO CLEARLY WE ARE STAFF AND WE SUPPORT THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD AND IF THE BOARD IS INVOLVED AS A NEW BOARD, ALL 5 OF YOU ARE NEW SINCE I STARTED 5 YEARS AGO, WE SUPPORT WHATEVER MAKES SENSE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, RUN POLICY, THE CITY WILL OR WON'T DELINK.
BUT WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO WORK THAT THROUGH, AS LONG AS WE DON'T GET PULLED IN TOO MUCH TIME WHEN WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE DIGGING DEEP TO ANALYZE FEDERAL AND STATE CUTS THAT ARE PROBABLY GONNA PROPOSE.
THAT'S WHAT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR.
THAT'S WHERE WE THINK OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE.
- CAN I JUST ASK ONE OTHER QUESTION.
IS THERE, UM... MY COLLEAGUES, THE AUGUST DATE, WAS THERE A LOGIC BEHIND THAT OR WAS IT JUST SORT OF MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY? - IT'S JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE US WITH A LONG ENOUGH RUNWAY JUST GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GONNA BE COMPLEX, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND MEETINGS AND SO THAT WAS JUST PUT OUT THERE AS, YOU KNOW, GIVING US ENOUGH TIME TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE WE'RE GONNA NEED TO DO.
AND SO, AND SO JUST GIVING US, YOU KNOW, THE TIME.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, SO...
I'M JUST... I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THE MOTION OR THAT THE AUGUST DATE DOESN'T PRECLUDE THIS BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING COME BACK BEFORE, LIKE THE SECOND MEETING IN MARCH.
BECAUSE I MEAN, IF WE ARE FACING THE KIND OF CHALLENGES THAT WE, WE KNOW ARE POSSIBLE, WE MIGHT NEED TO RECONSIDER THE CONTRACTS, THE CORE CONTRACTS GOING INTO THE SECOND YEAR,
[07:20:05]
AND REALLOCATE THOSE MONEY...UM, MONIES BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE URGENT NEEDS.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THE, THE STARK REALITY.
IF THAT'S THE CONCLUSION WE ARRIVE AT, HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT BEFORE WE ENTER THE SECOND YEAR.
- I, I THINK YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT ON THAT, SUPERVISOR KOENIG.
AND, YOU KNOW, PART OF SORT OF THE FACT FINDING OF DOING THIS WORK MAY BE THAT WE COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO FUND THESE CONTRACTS TO OUR, UM, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I DON'T... YOU KNOW, I, I HOPE NOT.
THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS THAT WITH SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ'S, VERY DEEP AND RICH, UH, EXPERIENCE, I'M VERY HAPPY TO CEDE MY ROLE.
IF, IF MONICA, IF YOU'D LIKE TO WORK ON THIS DIRECTLY WITH JUSTIN, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I'M A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER.
I HAVE WORKED BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN HEALTHCARE AND IN, YOU KNOW, MANY DEGREES OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR A LONG TIME.
SO I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SOME EXPERTISE HERE, BUT I'M CERTAINLY NOT TO THE LEVEL THAT YOU HAVE.
AND I'M, YOU KNOW, VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU STEP IN, ON THIS INSTEAD OF ME.
[SILENCE] - I'LL JUST RESPOND.
SUPERVISOR DE SERPA, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
YOU KNOW, I, I FEEL LIKE I'VE HAD A VOICE AT THE TABLE AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CORE PROCESS FOR THE LAST NEARLY A DECADE.
AND, AND WE'VE GOTTEN TO WHERE WE ARE.
AND, AND LIKE I SAID THERE IS, I DO BELIEVE THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT BUT, UM, PERHAPS NOT THE DRAMATIC CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE COMING FROM THE COMMITTEE.
SO, SO I WOULD BE, I'D BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT COMES FROM THE AD HOC COMMITTEE BASED ON YOUR, YOUR NEW VOICE AND NEW EXPERIENCE IN OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET.
AND SO YEAH, I, I WILL, I WILL DEFER THAT TO YOU.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
[SILENCE] - ALL RIGHT, WELL WE GOT A ONE MORE COMMENT, BUT WE GOTTA PICK IT UP TO THE PUBLIC AND...
- YEAH, I'LL JUST, TO SUPERVISOR KOENIG'S POINT, I, I ACTUALLY AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE ON A 3 YEAR CYCLE AND GIVEN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION THE IMPACTS WE'RE FACING, I THINK THAT THERE ARE PROGRAMS AGAIN THAT WERE APPROVED THAT I THINK WOULD BE BETTER, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE KIND OF PIE IN THE SKY PROGRAMS VERSUS SOME OF OUR SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. AND I THINK WE SHOULD BRING IT BACK...
WE SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER WE MAY NEED TO, YOU KNOW, REDUCE THE TIMING OF SOME OF THESE CONTRACTS.
BECAUSE, AS THINGS CONTINUE TO GET WORSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CERTAIN PROGRAMS THAT MAY NEED TO, JUST WE, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FUND AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF CRITICAL SERVICES THAT MAY NEED, UH, MORE ATTENTION.
- [INAUDIBLE] RFPS, DID YOU SAY THAT THEY'RE CONTRACTS THAT GO OUT? - YES.
SO LET ME CLARIFY, AND IF I MAY, HEARING THIS, JUST SAY ONE OTHER COMMENT TO PUT THIS IN CONTEXT.
SO YES, THIS WAS THE NOVEMBER 19TH VOTE, 3-2 OF THIS BOARD, 5-1 OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT EVENING SUPPORTED A 3-YEAR TERM.
OUR CONTRACTS UNIT IN HSD ARE WORKING ON ALL OF THOSE CONTRACTS WITH ALL 41 GRANTEES RIGHT NOW.
TO BE CLEAR, YOUR BOARD RETAINS FULL AUTHORITY AT ANY POINT IN TIME WITH NOTICE TO END ANY OF THOSE CONTRACTS.
BUT I DO WANNA SHARE, I HOPE THIS FEELS RELEVANT, MINDFUL WE'RE REALLY LATE.
THIS WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND THIS GETS BACK TO WHY I THINK WE NEED TIME TO DO ANALYSIS.
THIS IS $5 MILLION AND IT'S 41 GRANTS.
[PAUSE] HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TOGETHER HAVE 764 PURCHASE ORDERS IN GRANTS FOR SERVICES IN THE SAFETY NET.
SO 764 IS THE ECOSYSTEM OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GRANTS, WHICH TOTAL $184 MILLION OF MONEY.
SO I FEEL VERY RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE HAVE A DISCUSSION, THE REASON THIS 5 MILLION IS SO IMPORTANT, I, AS I SEE IT IS 'CAUSE IT IS COMPLETELY AT YOUR DISCRETION AS GENERAL FUND.
MOST OF THAT BALANCE IS FEDERAL AND STATE, TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TOGGLE BACK AND FORTH WITH ALL THE DRAMATIC CHANGE.
I THINK AS STAFF, THE RESPONSIBLE CONVERSATION IS TO THINK ABOUT THAT 5 MILLION IN THE LARGER CONTEXT SO THAT YOU HAVE FULL INFORMATION IN THE [INAUDIBLE].
THAT'S THE MAIN HOPE I SEE GOING FORWARD.
AND THAT WILL HAPPEN THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS INEVITABLY.
SO I HOPE THAT WAS HELPFUL, BUT I, I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW LARGE AND WHERE THE SCALE AND WHERE THIS FITS WITHIN THE LARGER ECOSYSTEM OF CONTRACTS WE ALL HOLD IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
I'M GONNA GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC, OKAY? ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WISHES TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? [SILENCE] - YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S THE BUDGET.
AND OUR MEMBERS HAVE REAL CONCERN WITH HSD LEADERSHIP, PARTICULARLY RANDY'S LEADERSHIP.
HE IS NOT LISTENING TO ITS WORKERS, TO ITS WORKFORCE.
[07:25:04]
AND THAT HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.WORKERS HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH HSD, HE COMES FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTY, ALAMEDA.
UNDER ESPINOLA, CECILIA ESPINOLA, THIS HSD DEPARTMENT WAS AMAZING.
I THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME AND DO A REPORT AROUND THE SERVICES THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING AND HOW THAT'S IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR MEMBERS DID A FLYER THAT SAYS WHAT HSD REALLY MEANS, "HOVERING, HOVERING OVER THEIR WORKERS, SCORN FOR ITS MISSION AND VALUES AND APATHETIC TO WORKERS' CONCERNS." ANYTHING THEY BRING FORWARD AS AN ISSUE AND CONCERN IS GASLIGHTED BY HIS MANAGEMENT TEAM.
THERE'S A PUNITIVE APPROACH AND THIS IS IMPACTING BUDGET AND MONETARY OUTCOMES.
IF YOUR WORKFORCE IS NOT HAPPY, I NEED...
I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS MANAGEMENT BECAUSE SERVICES ARE NOT BEING PROVIDED AS THEY SHOULD IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[SILENCE] - BERNIE GOMEZ WITH MILPA.
JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE TRIED TO, I'VE DUG INTO THE CORE, RIGHT? AND JUST, UH, I MYSELF, I'M NEW TO THIS STUFF, YOU KNOW, SO JUST READING IT AND THEN, BUT ALSO I, I'VE HAD MY, MY JUST THOUGHTS AROUND LIKE, WHAT SERVICE IS, WHAT IS THE, WHAT DOES THE SAFETY NET MEAN, RIGHT? LIKE, WHAT, WHAT IS IT THAT THE PEOPLE NEED? WHAT IS IT THAT THE COUNTY IS PROVIDING? WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES, YOU KNOW? WHY ISN'T PEOPLE'S, UH, LIVELIHOOD OR THE HEALTH, THEIR, JUST THE THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH, YOU KNOW, UM, EVOLVING.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, WHAT'S, WHAT'S OUT THERE? WHAT'S ACTUALLY WORKING, YOU KNOW? IT'S LIKE WHAT REPORTS SAY, YOU KNOW, ONE THING, BUT WHEN YOU'RE ON THE GROUND, WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING AND LOOKING AT IT AND LISTENING TO IT, RIGHT? THAT SAYS SOMETHING ELSE, YOU KNOW? AND SO I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT WE GOTTEN THIS FAR, RIGHT? THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND, UH, FOLKS SUPPORTING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, VULNERABLE PEOPLE OUT THERE.
BUT WE ALSO WERE FACING NEW CHALLENGES, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CHALLENGE, RIGHT? BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD, RIGHT, IS THOSE THAT ARE, UH, JUST AS IMPACTED, RIGHT? WE STILL SEE, UH, A HIGH DISCREPANCY IN INCARCERATION AND, UH, IN POLICING AND YOUNG PEOPLE, BROWN YOUNG PEOPLE IN WATSONVILLE, YOU KNOW, AND THE DATA'S THERE TO APPROVE IT.
SO JUST LIKE, WHEN I THINK ABOUT CORE, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE COUNTY PROVIDING MONEY GRANTS TO NONPROFITS, YOU KNOW, TO DO COMMUNITY WORK OR WHATEVER THAT IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT FOR A LONG TIME THERE'S BEEN A, A BUBBLE, RIGHT, OF CORE SERVICES, RIGHT, CORE FOLKS DOING THAT WORK.
AND I THINK IT'S JUST TIME TO ALSO OPEN IT UP A LITTLE, RIGHT? AND LET NEW PEOPLE, NEW EMERGING ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE PROVIDING HEALTH SERVICES, BUT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE TOO, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS ALL INTERCONNECTED, RIGHT? SO ANYWAYS, THANK YOU.
I COMMEND SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS AND SUPERVISOR DE SERPA FOR BEING WILLING TO TAKE THIS TASK ON.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS SORELY NEEDED.
AND I DO THINK THAT GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE HEARD AND EXPECT TO HEAR FURTHER, THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FUNDED WITH A 3 YEAR CONTRACT SHOULD BE ALERTED THAT THAT MAY CHANGE AND, AND THAT IT, IT COULD AND PERHAPS SHOULD BE REEVALUATED TO SUPPORT BASIC, BASIC SERVICES.
I ALSO WANNA THANK SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ FOR WEIGHING IN AS THE FORMER CEO OF ENCOMPASS.
AS SHE SAID IT WAS AND HAS BEEN THE LARGEST RECIPIENT.
FOR THAT REASON, I REALLY THINK THAT SHE SHOULD RECUSE HERSELF FROM ANY VOTE IN THIS MATTER BECAUSE, I BELIEVE THAT THE FPPC REQUIRES THAT FOR TRANSPARENCY AND, UM, ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT INFLUENCING ANYTHING AT ALL THAT COULD BE OF A FAVORABLE OUTCOME FOR HER VERY RECENT EMPLOYER, ENCOMPASS.
SO I HOPE THAT SUPERVISOR MARTINEZ WILL RECUSE OR ABSTAIN.
[SILENCE] - IS THERE ANYONE ONLINE? - I SEE NO SPEAKERS ONLINE, CHAIR.
- WITH THAT, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD
[07:30:01]
FOR MOTIONS OR COMMENTS.[SILENCE] - WELL, FIRST OF ALL, RANDY, I'D LIKE TO JUST THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK.
I KNOW IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK FOR $5 MILLION COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON.
SO HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T ADD TOO MUCH MORE TO THE PLATE.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 13.
IS IT 13? WHICH IS DEVELOPMENT OF A SUBCOMMITTEE OF JUSTIN CUMMINGS AND MYSELF, TO, UH, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CORE PROCESS.
[SILENCE] - AND 6.1, ARE YOU ALSO INCLUDING THAT AS PART OF THE MOTION? - CAN I, I THINK WE'LL DO A SEPARATE MOTION ON THAT.
- 'CAUSE I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THAT MOTION SHOULD SAY.
SO LET'S JUST DO THIS ONE FIRST.
AND THIS IS JUST THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM, UH, DE SERPA AND A SECOND FROM, UH, CUMMINGS.
IF WE CAN TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
MADAM CLERK, I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT MY ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE FOR THIS.
WHILE, UM, I WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ON ANY SORT OF FUTURE CONTRACTS RELATED TO ENCOMPASS COMMUNITY SERVICES, I HAVE STATED IN PRIOR SESSIONS THAT I WON'T BE VOTING WHEN AN ITEM COMES UP OVER THE NEXT, THE FIRST ONE YEAR OF MY TERM RELATED TO ENCOMPASS CONTRACTS.
HOWEVER, THIS ITEM DOES NOT RELATE TO ENCOMPASS CONTRACTS, THEREFORE, I WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE AS PLANNED.
[SILENCE] - SUPERVISOR KOENIG. - AYE.
- I'LL MOVE THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR ITEM 6.2.
- 6.1 AND IT'S ITEMS 52, AND IT'S ACTIONS 1 AND 2.
- I'LL MOVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
- AND I ASK THAT I GET SOME CLARIFICATION.
ITEM 3, IF IT STOOD ALONE AND YOU VOTED ON, YOU WOULD DIRECT US TO REPORT BACK TO YOU IN DECEMBER.
BUT I WANT TO CONFIRM, I READ THAT YOUR VOTE TO ESTABLISH COMMITTEE KIND OF...
- YEAH, WE'RE NOT VOTING ON ITEM 3.
AND THREE IS NOW MOOT BASED ON YOUR BOARD'S ACTION.
- WELL, WAIT, CAN, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT? BECAUSE I [INAUDIBLE] - SO, YEAH...
- UNDER THAT ITEM NUMBER THREE IS BRINGING BACK A LESSON LEARNED REPORT, CORRECT? - YEAH, SO AS I HEAR THAT WE WOULD INSTEAD WORK WITH YOU AS THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND FOLLOW YOUR DIRECTION ABOUT WHEN AND HOW TO REPORT BACK AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THIS STANDALONE ISOLATE...
'CAUSE WE'RE JUST GONNA FOLLOW YOUR LEAD.
- BUT I THINK THE, BUT THE LESSON, ISN'T THE LESSON LEARNED ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED FROM THIS PAST CYCLE? THAT'S HOW I INTERPRET THAT.
BECAUSE THE NEXT, BECAUSE THIS...
AS WE MOVE INTO FISCAL YEAR 20, WHAT, 6, '25-'26, THEN THAT IS GOING TO, THAT'S GONNA BE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT ROUND OF CORE, RIGHT? SO THE LESSONS LEARNED IS GONNA GIVE US INFORMATION ABOUT THE PREVIOUS ROUND.
- OKAY, SO THIS, THIS IS A LANGUAGE ISSUE.
WE, WE, WE, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE WILL STILL REPORT BACK ON AN ANNUAL BASE BASIS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CONTRACTS AND YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THEM IF AT WHATEVER POINT, THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS WE ALWAYS REPORT ON STATUS OF LESSONS LEARNED.
HOW'S IT GOING, WHAT'S THE COMPLIANCE, THE DELIVERABLES IN THE CONTRACT.
TO ME THAT'S SEPARATE FROM, AND I THINK THE LANGUAGE IS GETTING CONFLATED.
THERE'S BEEN A HISTORY OF EVERY RFP ITERATION HAS LED TO A KIND OF AN, UH, AN AFTER ACTION REVIEW AND THEN GET TOGETHER AND THEN BRING SOMETHING TO THE BOARD AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT ITERATION IS GONNA BE.
TO ME, THAT ACTION IS NOW TAKEN BY THIS COMMITTEE AND WE WILL FOLLOW YOUR BOARD'S DIRECTION AND YOUR COMMITTEE'S DIRECTION ON WHAT TO DO WITH THE FUTURE OF HOW TO PROCURE OR NOT THIS MONEY.
THAT'S WHAT WE MEANT BY ITEM 3 OF OUR REPORT.
- THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S 2, THERE'S 2 THINGS THERE, RIGHT? ONE IS WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THIS PAST CYCLE? AND THE OTHER ONE IS NEXT STEPS.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE NEXT STEPS PIECE IS KIND OF WHAT THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IS GONNA BE WORKING ON WITH YOU ALL.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS PREVIOUS CYCLE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S INFORMATION THAT WE'LL STILL WANNA HAVE REPORTED OUT TO THE BOARD.
- OKAY, THIS ALREADY SOUNDS LIKE THE COMMITTEE ALREADY DISCUSSING TERMS AND TIMELINES.
[INAUDIBLE] - I THINK THAT THE LESSONS LEARNED OUGHT TO BE FOR YOU FOLKS AT THIS POINT.
'CAUSE YOU WERE, YOU LIVED THROUGH THE PROCESS.
'CAUSE UM, WHAT I THINK IS THAT ITEM 1 AND 2 ARE CLEARLY WE NEED TO APPROVE.
ITEM 3 WAS A, FOR STAFF TO COME BACK WITH LESSONS LEARNED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD.
BUT SINCE THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S NOW TAKING THAT ROLE,
[07:35:01]
THEN YOU OUGHT TO THEN YOU, THAT SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR NEW PROCESS.SO YOU, WE SHOULDN'T AS STAFF COMING BACK WITH OUR LESSONS.
'CAUSE NOW IT'S MORE IMPORTANT WHAT YOU FOLKS WANT TO DO IN TERMS OF WHAT DID YOU LEARN, THE BOARD LEARN AND WHAT, HOW YOU'RE GONNA PUT THAT IN THE NEW PROCESS.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M RECOMMENDING YOU JUST APPROVED, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, JUST ACTION ITEMS 1 AND 2.
- AND, AND WE'LL WORK WITH YOUR SUBCOMMITTEE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CONNECT IT.
I MEAN, IT MAKES SENSE TO ME THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING YOUR LEAD AND IF YOU NEED, THIS IS THE TIMING ISSUE, ANALYSIS FROM...
WE'LL WORK WITH YOU ON THAT TO BRING BACK TO YOU.
- ALL RIGHT, THEN I'LL MOVE, I'LL MOVE, I'LL MOVE...
ITEMS 1 AND 2 FROM, UH, AGENDA ITEM 6.1 AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
- WE HAVE A MOTION FROM SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS AND A SECOND FROM SUPERVISOR KIM DE SERPA.
- WELL, AT LEAST CHAIR WAS TRYING TO SCRIBBLE THAT DOWN.
[INAUDIBLE] - CUMMINGS. - AYE.
- TWO MORE ITEMS. - OH, TWO MORE ITEMS. WOW, THAT'S A LOT OF ITEMS. [SILENCE] - WELL, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, IT'S JUST ONE MORE ITEM.
- IT SAYS ONE MORE [INAUDIBLE].
- ITEM 16 AND THEN WE HAVE 6.3.
OH, THE NEXT TIME WE'LL DO 20 ITEMS. OKAY, THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 16.
[16. Hold public hearing to discuss vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts in compliance with Government Code Section 3502.3]
HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE VACANCIES AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS IN COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE 3502.3.I'LL TURN IT OVER TO AJITA PATEL, PERSONNEL DIRECTOR AND ERIN MORIMOTO, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES MANAGER FOR THE PRESENTATION.
- GOOD EVENING, CHAIR HERNANDEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WITH ME TODAY IS ERIN MORIMOTO, OUR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES MANAGER.
AND IN THE AUDIENCE IS MY AMAZING RECRUITING TEAM THAT ARE JOINING US.
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST OF THIS YEAR, ALL PUBLIC AGENCIES MUST PRESENT INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF VACANCIES AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS.
THE LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC AGENCIES ARE APPROPRIATELY STAFFED AND THAT HIGH VACANCY RATES DO NOT UNDERMINE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE LABOR RELATIONS.
[PAUSE] BARGAINING UNITS ARE ENTITLED TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
NOTICE WAS GIVEN TO ALL LABOR GROUPS ON MARCH 21ST.
THERE WERE 2 GROUPS WHO RESPONDED.
SO WE WILL HAVE THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION REPRESENTING GENERAL REPRESENTATION UNIT, AND THE GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING ATTORNEYS IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AND CHILD SUPPORT OFFICES JOIN US TODAY.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND JUMP RIGHT TO THE DISCUSSION ON THE VACANCY RATES, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED BY ERIN.
- THIS IS THE VACANCY INFORMATION FOR THE COUNTYWIDE WORKFORCE.
COUNTYWIDE WE HAVE 2,841 FUNDED BUDGETED POSITIONS AND 243 FUNDED VACANT POSITIONS FOR A TOTAL VACANCY RATE COUNTYWIDE OF 9%.
[PAUSE] THE REQUIREMENT OF GOVERNMENT, OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE IS TO REFLECT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE BARGAINING UNIT VACANCY RATE.
SO THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES WILL REVIEW THE VACANCY RATE IN EACH BARGAINING UNIT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE FIGURES THAT YOU SEE ON THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES HAVE BEEN UPDATED SINCE THE SUBMISSION OF THE BOARD LETTER.
SO THIS DATA IS REFLECTING THE DATA FROM APRIL 11TH.
THE FIRST BARGAINING UNIT IS THE GENERAL REPRESENTATION UNIT, WHICH IS OUR LARGEST UNIT AND REPRESENTS OVER 400 CLASSIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THE GENERAL REPRESENTATION UNIT HAS A VACANCY RATE OF 10% WITH 199 VACANT POSITIONS OUT OF 1,948 BUDGETED POSITIONS.
THE GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY'S UNIT REPRESENTS THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S ATTORNEYS, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, AND THE CHILD SUPPORT ATTORNEYS.
THEY HAVE A VACANCY RATE OF 3% WITH 2 VACANT POSITIONS OUT OF 69 BUDGETED POSITIONS.
MIDDLE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS MANAGERS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND HAS A VACANCY RATE OF 10% WITH 32 VACANT POSITIONS OUT OF 334 BUDGETED POSITIONS.
THE PHYSICIAN'S REPRESENTATION UNIT,
[07:40:01]
WHICH REPRESENTS THE CLINIC PHYSICIANS AND PSYCHIATRISTS, HAVE A VACANCY RATE OF 24% WITH 5 VACANT POSITIONS OUT OF 21 BUDGETED POSITIONS.AND THEN WE HAVE UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS MADE UP OF DEPARTMENT HEADS, ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND THIRD LINE EXECUTIVE MANAGERS WITH A VACANCY RATE OF 5% AND 6 VACANT POSITIONS OUT OF 126 BUDGETED POSITIONS.
[PAUSE] THE DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICERS REPRESENT THE PROBATION OFFICERS IN THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT WITH A 0% VACANCY RATE WITH 0 VACANT POSITIONS OUT OF 59 BUDGETED POSITIONS.
CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, WHICH REPRESENTS THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, WITH A VACANCY RATE OF 3% WITH 4 VACANT POSITIONS OUT OF 116 BUDGETED POSITIONS.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY INSPECTORS HAVE A VACANCY RATE OF 7% WITH 1 VACANT POSITION OUT OF 15 BUDGETED POSITIONS.
LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT, WHICH REPRESENTS THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS, HAS A VACANCY RATE OF 3% WITH 3 VACANT POSITIONS OUT OF 119 BUDGETED POSITIONS.
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT MIDDLE MANAGEMENT UNIT, WHICH REPRESENTS THE SHERIFF'S LIEUTENANTS, HAS A VACANCY RATE OF 0% WITH 0 VACANCIES OUT OF 10 BUDGETED POSITIONS.
AND THE SHERIFF'S SUPERVISORY UNIT, WHICH REPRESENTS THE SHERIFF'S SERGEANTS, HAS A 0% VACANCY RATE, WITH 0 VACANT, VACANT POSITIONS OUT OF 24 BUDGETED POSITIONS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF OUR UNITS.
ONE OF THEM IS THE PHYSICIAN'S REPRESENTATION UNIT AND THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST VACANCY RATE OF 24%.
BUT WE DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT THIS, THIS SPECIFIC BARGAINING UNIT POSES SOME PRETTY DIFFICULT-TO-RECRUIT CHALLENGES BECAUSE THERE IS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE IN LICENSED INDIVIDUALS.
AND WE ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT, WHICH HAS A VERY LOW VACANCY RATE RIGHT NOW OF 3%.
TRADITIONALLY, THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT-TO-RECRUIT-FOR BARGAINING UNIT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE WORK.
AND THEY GO THROUGH A PRETTY STRENUOUS BACKGROUND CHECK AS WELL.
SO WE'RE PRETTY PLEASED WITH THE LOW VACANCY RATE OF 3% WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
[PAUSE] OUR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS VARY DEPENDING ON THE CLASSIFICATION THAT WE'RE RECRUITING FOR, AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR HIRING DEPARTMENTS ON DESIGNING CUSTOMIZED OUTREACH PLANS FOR EACH RECRUITMENT.
SOME OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS OF OUTREACH THAT WE CONDUCT ARE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, CAREER AND INTERNSHIP FAIRS, ONLINE JOB POSTINGS, AND EMPLOYEE TESTIMONIAL VIDEOS, WHICH WE'VE BEEN PRODUCING THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR.
AND UTILIZING AS A, AS PART OF OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS.
WE HAVE GONE BACK TO OUR GRASSROOTS EFFORTS AND WE ARE DOING A LOT OF DIRECT CONTACT TO PROSPECTIVE JOB SEEKERS.
AND SO THAT INCLUDES DIRECT PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, AND DIRECT MAILINGS TO THESE FOLKS.
AND WHAT.... ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY CONCENTRATED ON, FOCUSED ON IS REALLY BUILDING OUR LOCAL TALENT PIPELINE.
AND SO WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO CONNECT WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND EDUCATING THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT COUNTY CAREERS SO THAT THEY WILL ONE DAY, HOPEFULLY, WHEN THEY'RE READY TO ENTER THE JOB MARKET, CONSIDER THE COUNTY AS A, A CAREER.
AND WE'RE ALSO CONDUCTING MONTHLY COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS.
AND THIS IS REALLY AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS REGARDING OUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS BECAUSE WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THE COUNTY RECRUITMENT PROCESS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT, WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE, ARE USED TO IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND AS YOU ARE AWARE, WE DO OFFER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION INCENTIVES.
WE HAVE CURRENTLY 10 RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION INCENTIVES THAT ARE OFFERED FOR DIFFICULT-TO-RECRUIT-FOR CLASSIFICATIONS, AND THEY'VE BEEN QUITE HELPFUL IN OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
- WE ARE ALSO MARKETING SOME OTHER STRATEGIES TO FILL VACANCIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO FILL VACANCIES.
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT MIGHT BE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT.
IF THERE ARE LESS THAN 5 QUALIFIED CANDIDATES ON AN ELIGIBLE LIST, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND APPOINT SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT ON THAT LIST AND THEN RUN A RECRUITMENT.
THIS HELPS DEPARTMENTS SOMETIMES IF THEY NEED TO IMMEDIATELY FILL THE POSITION FOR CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING CALLED EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS, WHICH MEANS THAT WE CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IF THERE'S A CRITICAL NEED OR A STAFFING URGENT ISSUE WHERE WE CAN ASSIGN SOMEBODY TO THE POSITION AND THEN DO THE RECRUITMENT AFTERWARDS
[07:45:02]
AND ONBOARD THE FOLKS LATER.WE ALSO HAVE A TOOL CALLED SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION.
WE OFTENTIMES HAVE A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES ON OUR ELIGIBLE LIST, AND SOMETIMES IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
WE REALLY LOVE THAT WE HAVE A ROBUST CERTIFICATION LIST, BUT THAT MEANS DEPARTMENTS MAY HAVE TO ACTUALLY INTERVIEW 60 PEOPLE.
BUT THEY MAY BE LOOKING FOR SOME VERY SPECIFIC SKILL SETS, SO WE CAN USE THIS TOOL AND DEPARTMENTS CAN IDENTIFY THE SKILL SETS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, AND WE CERTIFY THOSE NAMES THAT HAVE THOSE SKILL SETS AND THAT'LL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO FILL THEIR VACANCY MUCH QUICKER.
WE ALSO ARE USING SOME DIFFERENT STRATEGIES FOR OUR DIFFICULT-TO-RECRUIT POSITIONS.
AND YOU ALL KNOW VERY WELL THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS AN AREA THAT WE STRUGGLE BECAUSE THOSE POSITIONS REQUIRE LICENSES.
AGAIN, A SHORTAGE OF FOLKS WHO WANNA DO THAT JOB, AND THEN WHAT WE DO IS FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH CLIENT SERIES, WE ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING THOSE RECRUITMENTS CONTINUOUS, WE NEVER CLOSE THEM, SO WE DON'T EVER MISS ANY INTERESTED CANDIDATES.
WHEN WE DO GET APPLICATIONS, MY TEAM HAS ACTUALLY CREATED A NEW SYSTEM AND STRUCTURE WHERE THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED WITHIN 24 HOURS AND IMMEDIATELY SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT TO ARM THEM WITH THE ABILITY TO INTERVIEW CANDIDATES RIGHT AWAY.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE ARE MARKETING TO DEPARTMENTS IS WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO DO A 6 WEEK RECRUITMENT.
THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES CURRENTLY ALLOW A RECRUITMENT TO BE DONE FOR 7 DAYS.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO ADAPT TO THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU DON'T WANNA LOSE CANDIDATES.
AND SO AN IDEA IF IT WORKS FOR A DEPARTMENT AND THEY WANNA DO THAT, IS LET'S DO SHORTER RECRUITMENTS, BUT LET'S DO THEM MORE OFTEN.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ADAPT TO THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT AND TRY A, A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING.
OH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO MENTION THAT ONCE WE DO HAVE CANDIDATES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR US, THERE'S A COUPLE OF PERKS THAT WE CAN OFFER THAT WE'RE USING, WHICH IS THAT THERE IS A RELOCATION ASSISTANCE OF UP TO $10,000 IF WE'RE TRYING TO RELOCATE SOMEBODY TO SANTA CRUZ AND THEY'RE MOVING INTO THE AREA.
AND SO THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING CALLED ADVANCE ACCRUAL RATES FOR ANYONE WHO HAS ALREADY SERVED IN ANOTHER PUBLIC AGENCY, IF WE WANT TO LURE THEM HERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S VALUABLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY SEASONED AND HAVE SENIORITY ELSEWHERE IS THE ABILITY TO TAKE TIME OFF, VACATION OR SICK.
AND SO WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL TRY TO MATCH AND ADVANCE THEIR ACCRUALS TO WHERE THEY WERE WHEN THEY LEFT.
WE OF COURSE, ALSO HAVE THE REMOTE WORK POLICY, AND THAT IS COMING IN VERY HANDY, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHERE SOME PUBLIC AGENCIES AND PRIVATE SECTORS GROUPS ARE BRINGING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK A 100%.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT SALARY AND COMPENSATION.
AS YOU KNOW WHEN WE ARE BARGAINING WITH GROUPS, WE TEND TO DO A SALARY SURVEY.
WE LOOK TO SEE WHERE THEY'RE AT IN COMPENSATION AND WE TRY TO MAKE STRIDES TO BRING THEM TO MARKET.
WE ALSO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO LOOK AT THINGS, IF WE SEE THAT WE ARE FACING RECRUITMENT, RETENTION ISSUES AROUND A PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATION, WE CAN ALSO MID-CONTRACT, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE ALL OF THESE EFFORTS.
SO AN ASPECT OF THE LEGISLATION IS TO IDENTIFY NECESSARY POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE NEEDED TO ADDRESS VACANCIES.
SO WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND SOME THINGS THAT OUR TEAM WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON IS MAKING SOME MORE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CIVIL SERVICE ROLES.
WE HAD COME TO YOU IN APRIL OF 2023 AND WE BROUGHT PHASE 1 CHANGES, WHICH WERE VERY HELPFUL IN CREATING SOME FLEXIBILITY FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS IN THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
WE'LL BE COMING TO YOU IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO BRING YOU PHASE II.
THE PHASE II CHANGES THAT WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING YOU ARE REALLY TO HELP MODERNIZE THE PUBLIC SECTOR HIRING AND STILL MAINTAIN SOME BALANCE OF THE MERIT SYSTEM.
WE'VE RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEED TO REALLY INCREASE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS ON THE HIRING PROCESS AND AVAILABLE TOOLS FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS.
WE ARE HAVING SOME LONGTIME EMPLOYEES IN DEPARTMENT LANDS RETIRE, AND THOSE FOLKS HAVE HISTORY AND KNOWLEDGE AND THEY DON'T DO THIS WORK DAY TO DAY.
SO MY STAFF ARE RECOGNIZING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME REMINDING THEM.
IT'S, IT'S VERY INHERENT TO US, WE KNOW ALL THE LINGO AND ALL THE TECHNICAL AVENUES AND PATHWAYS.
BUT WE NEED TO KEEP EDUCATING OUR DEPARTMENTS ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE NOTICING THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS AND HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR HIRING DEPARTMENT PRACTICES.
[07:50:02]
THE REALITY IS THAT OUR SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS WHO ARE DOING THE HIRING, THEY ALSO HAVE OTHER JOBS.THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP OPERATIONS GOING, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY WANNA SUPPORT THEM IS PLANNING AHEAD AND FIGURING OUT WAYS TO QUICKLY COMPLETE INTERVIEWS ONCE THEY HAVE THE ELIGIBLE LIST.
WE'RE ALSO WANTING TO SUPPORT THEM IN HELPING WITH REFERENCE CHECKS AND HELPING TO SPEED UP THAT PROCESS AND NEGOTIATING CANDIDATE START DATES.
SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS ON THOSE, THOSE AREAS.
ONE THING WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SOME CLASSIFICATIONS WHERE WE'RE SEEING A HIGH NO SHOW RATE TO THE EXAMINATION IF WE'RE PROCTORING IN A WRITTEN EXAM.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT DOING ALTERNATE EXAM DATES, TIMES, AND LOCATIONS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY WORKING IS EVENING TIMES.
MOST PEOPLE ARE WORKING AT OTHER JOBS DURING THE DAYTIME AND WE'RE CONDUCTING EXAMINATIONS DURING THE DAY, MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO SHOW UP.
SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING SOME IN THE EVENINGS.
SO THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'LL BE FOCUSING IN ON.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMENTS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR TWO BARGAINING UNITS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME PRESENTATIONS AROUND THE VACANCY RATE AND RECRUITMENT RETENTION EFFORTS.
SO WE'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY CALL UP THE GENERAL REPRESENTATION UNIT REPRESENTATIVES.
- [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] - OH, I DON'T-, WE THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA SIT IN THE BIG CHAIR.
[LAUGHS] SO WE HAVE SOME COPIES FOR YOU.
WHAT A DAY, RIGHT? SO, ONCE AGAIN, I'M OLIVIA MARTINEZ.
I'M THE REGION 2 DIRECTOR, SO THANK YOU.
SO WE ARE NOT DISPUTING THE AMOUNT OF VACANCIES THAT ARE UNDER OUR BARGAINING UNIT.
BUT AS YOU CAN TELL FROM PER-...
I MEAN FROM PERSONNEL'S PRESENTATION IS THAT WE HAVE THE LARGEST VACANCY RATE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PASSING OUT IS THE NUMBER OF VACANCY RATES, THE VACANCIES THAT ARE IN CRITICAL POSITIONS THAT DO DIRECT CLIENT SERVICES, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN THERE'S THESE KIND OF VACANCIES, RIGHT, AND THERE'S PROPOSED CUTS AS WELL TO SOME OF THESE VACANCIES, THEN I ASK THE BOARD TO ASK THE DEPARTMENTS, WHO DOES THE WORK? [PAUSE] WHO IS DOING THE WORK OF ALL THESE VACANCIES? AND WE'RE NOTICING THAT MORE AND MORE, RIGHT, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE JOB ARE DOING UP TO 2 JOBS OR THEY HAVE SO MUCH WORKLOAD, RIGHT? AND THAT'S A PROBLEM WITH, WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT THEY ARE FRUSTRATED, THEY ARE TIRED AND FOLKS ARE NOT LISTENING AROUND ESTABLISHING WORKLOAD STANDARDS, RIGHT? YOU HAVE ELIGIBILITY WORKERS.
AND THIS IS WHY I MADE MY COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT HSD LEADERSHIP BECAUSE THERE'RE CONCERNS ABOUT SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WAITING ON THE CALL OR WAITING FOR SERVICES, IT'S BECAUSE IT HAS AN ISSUE WITH VACANCY RATES, RIGHT? SO IF WE LOOK AT HOW MANY POSITIONS YOU HAVE FOR HSD, JUST IN BENEFITS, RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
THESE ARE ELIGIBILITY WORKERS THAT DETERMINE FOOD STAMPS, MEDI, MEDI, MEDI-CAL, GENERAL SERVICES, AND CALWORKS, RIGHT? SO THIS IS CREATING A BACKLOG FOR FOLKS.
THIS IS CREATING A WORKLOAD ISSUE AND IT'S CREATING DIRECT CLIENT SERVICES ISSUES.
IF PEOPLE ARE GETTING SERVICES ON TIME, RIGHT? THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, MONTEREY COUNTY, AND SANTA CLARA COUNTY IS THAT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY IS NOT MONITORED BY THE STATE AS MONTEREY COUNTY AND SANTA CLARA COUNTY FOR ERROR RATE, RIGHT? I REPRESENT MONTEREY COUNTY AND SO THEY'RE UNDER A WHOLE DIFFERENT JURISDICTION, RIGHT? IN TERMS OF HOW THEY'RE BEING MONITORED.
AND SO THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING ARE NOT AN ERROR RATE, BECAUSE THEN THEY LOSE FUNDING DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE.
WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING WITH, WITH THEM.
AND IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, RANDY'S DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CATEGORIZED AS THAT.
BUT THEN WHO'S REALLY MONITORING THOSE KIND OF ERRORS? TO PEOPLE THAT NEED FOOD STAMPS, MEDI-CAL AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'M GLAD PERSONNEL IS MAKING ALL THESE CHANGES AND THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US TO IMPROVE, YOU KNOW HOW THEY'RE HIRING AND HOW FAST.
BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE IS WHEN THERE'S VACANCIES LIKE THESE IN CLERICAL, IN CLERICAL
[07:55:01]
AND IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT, UM, DEPARTMENTS, IT CREATES AN IMPACT TO SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.SO DEVIN IS GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IMPACTS TO HSA.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT OUT OF ALL OF THE VACANCIES THAT WERE SHOWN TODAY IN THE GENERAL REPRESENTATION UNIT, 107 OF THEM ARE IN HSA.
AND TO REFERENCE THE DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS PRIOR, WHEN SHE WAS SPEAKING THAT HSA HAS GROWN, IT'S REALLY ONLY GROWN IN ITS MID-MANAGEMENT SECTION, 108, 107 VACANCIES ARE STILL IN, REPRESENTED IN SERVICE STAFF AT THE AGENCY.
SO YOU'VE SUCCESSFULLY HIRED MID-MANAGERS, BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO HIRE STAFF TO DO THE ACTUAL REVENUE GENERATING SERVICE PROVIDING WORK.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS DEVON KING.
I'M THE SEIU REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE COUNTY'S HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY.
I HAVE REPRESENTED HSA SINCE AROUND 2022.
AND HAVE WITNESSED THE DEGRADATION OF THE HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY AT THE HANDS OF MANAGEMENT OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.
TODAY YOU HEARD DIRECTLY FROM OUR WORKERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS REGARDING THE PROPOSED CUTS OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES, LAB AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
AS OUR WORKERS MENTIONED, WE'VE FREQUENTLY ADDRESSED YOU ALL OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS THROUGH LOBBYING, PETITIONING, AND SPEAKING TO YOU ALL DIRECTLY.
WE CAME TO YOU AFTER THE GRAND JURY REPORT, WHO, WHICH SPOTLIGHTED THE INSURMOUNTABLE MENTAL HEALTH VACANCY CRISIS WITHIN OUR COUNTY, THE COUNTY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
OUR WORKERS TOLD YOU THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN, UH, COMPETITIVE PAY.
PERSONNEL DENIED THAT THERE WAS ONE.
AFTERWARDS, AFTER THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THERE WAS A SALARY SURVEY COMPLETED.
THAT SURVEY WAS HID FROM THE UNION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BEFORE BEING PROVIDED PRIOR TO BARGAINING.
THE STUDY PROVED THAT MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS WERE UNDERPAID FOR MONTHS.
SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO GIVE, RAISE, RAISES TO WAGES, WHICH WOULD'VE SEVERELY IMPACTED THE ABILITY OF THE COUNTY TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT NEW MENTAL HEALTH CLIENT SPECIALISTS TO THE POSITIONS AND EXPAND THE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
TODAY MENTAL HEALTH CLIENT SPECIALISTS REPRESENT THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE HSA VACANCY RATE.
WE CAME TO YOU TO SOUND THE ALARM OF THE GUTTING OF THE MERT SERVICES BY MANAGERS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WHO INTENDED TO RADICALLY CHANGE THE SCHEDULING AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM.
THE DIRECTOR WHO HAS SINCE RESIGNED, PUSHED THROUGH THESE UNSUSTAINABLE CHANGES AND PUSHED OUT THE MAJORITY OF LONG SERVING STAFF WITH IT.
THE DIVISION LOST SEVERAL LICENSED CLINICIANS DURING A TIME WHEN MENTAL HEALTH CRISES WERE AN ALL TIME HIGH IN THIS COUNTY.
SINCE THEN, THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS PUSHED HIGHER AND HIGHER WORKLOADS AND PRODUCTIVITY STANDARDS, TREATING HUMAN BEINGS LIKE A CASH MILL, FORFEITING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH SERVICES TO COVER THE DEFICITS THEY CREATED.
IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME WHAT IS CAUSING THIS VACANCY ISSUE, I WOULD SAY THAT THE SPIRALING COST OF LIVING IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN, WHICH MOST OF YOU ARE CURRENTLY AWARE OF.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VACANCIES ISSUE IS A CULTURE ISSUE PERPETUATED BY COUNTY MANAGEMENT.
THE COUNTY NEEDS TO INVEST IN LEADERSHIP THAT WILL LISTEN TO ITS WORKFORCE AND WORK WITH THE UNION FAIRLY TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
WE WELCOME THIS CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IN HSA AND HOPE THAT YOU, THE BOARD, CHALLENGES THE NARRATIVE THE COUNTY MANAGEMENT IS SELLING YOU.
WE NEED LEADERS, NOT POWER HUNGRY EGOS WHO INTEND TO STRONG-ARM THE UNION, AND GUT OUR PUBLIC SERVICES.
- SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US, BECAUSE WE HAVE 10BUT I SEE THAT SOME OF YOU GUYS ARE BUSY DOING SOMETHING ELSE, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A REAL ISSUE THAT YOUR WORKFORCE HAS.
[PAUSE] IT REALLY DOES, AND I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE FOR US.
BUT WORKLOAD IS A BIG ISSUE AND VACANCIES FOR THESE WORKERS ARE BIG ISSUES.
WE NOTICED THAT AFTER THE PANDEMIC OR DURING THE PANDEMIC, THAT WHAT HELD TOGETHER THIS COUNTRY WAS WORKERS.
[PAUSE] WORKERS HELD THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER.
AND SINCE THEN, THE WORKLOAD HAS NOT REDUCED.
AND YOU ALL COME TO US DURING YOUR ELECTION CYCLES, RIGHT? AND YOU ASK US TO SUPPORT YOU.
AND WE ARE HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE WORKERS THAT HAVE ELECTED YOU TO THESE POSITIONS AND TO LISTEN TO THEM.
BECAUSE OUR WORKFORCE IS TIRED THAT YOUR MANAGERS, NOT PERSONNEL.
WE WANNA BLAME EVERYTHING TO PERSONNEL, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT TODAY, RIGHT? [LAUGHS] SHE'S LIKE, "GOOD!" - THANK YOU. - YES.
BUT THESE ARE DIRECTORS THAT YOU HAVE HIRED IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
THESE ARE DIRECTORS THAT JUSTIFY MID-MANAGEMENT ANALYST POSITIONS AND MORE AND MORE OF THESE MANAGERS POSITION, THE RATIO OF YOUR 334 POSITIONS TO OUR BARGAINING UNIT IS 5 MANAGERS FOR EACH OF THOSE WORKERS.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS, THAT YOU HAVE SO MANY MANAGERS POSITION, RIGHT? AND WE ARE STRUGGLING AS A COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
[08:00:02]
PEOPLE THAT ARE POOR ARE WAITING OVER AN HOUR TO GET SERVICES IN HSD FOOD STAMPS.HAVE YOU EVER BEEN HUNGRY? MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WERE.
SO YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IF YOU WEREN'T AND IF YOU HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HUNGRY OR HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING, YOU SHOULD, BECAUSE IF YOU CAN CUT 100 OF THOSE MID-MANAGEMENT POSITIONS TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK, YOU SHOULD.
THAT'S WHAT A LEADERSHIP DOES.
QUESTION? - YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THE QUESTION WAS, IF WE DID END UP CUTTING THE 74 POSITIONS THAT WERE DISCUSSED EARLIER TODAY, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE VACANCY RATE GOES DOWN? HOW DOES...
- [CROSSTALK] FOUR, 4 OR 5%? - YEAH, SO THAT'S WHAT ACTUALLY MONTEREY COUNTY IS DOING, RIGHT? WE REALLY PUSHED DURING NEGOTIATIONS THAT THEY HAD A 774 VACANCY RATE OF OUR POSITIONS, RIGHT? AND SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS ELIMINATING THOSE POSITION.
AND SO WHEN YOU, YOU CREATE A FAÇADE, RIGHT? BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A VACANCY ISSUE, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, RIGHT, IT'S THE WORKERS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO DO THIS.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY LEAVE OF ABSENCES THERE IS IN YOUR COUNTY, RIGHT? HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY ON LEAVE BECAUSE THEY'RE STRESSED, THEY'RE OVERWORKED.
WE HAVE NO IDEA, RIGHT? BUT IT'S A REAL ISSUE.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HAS REALLY MOVED AHEAD, AROUND CREATING WORKLOAD STANDARDS FOR EACH OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY BUDGET, RIGHT, GO TO THE STATE WITH US, AND TO PROPOSE MORE MONEY, RIGHT, WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY DO THE WORK IN AN 8-HOUR SHIFT.
YOUR WORKERS CANNOT DO WORK IN AN 8-HOUR SHIFT.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR LISTENING TO ME.
YOU WILL HEAR MORE FROM THE WORKERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE DECIDED TO SEND YOU LETTERS DIRECTLY SO THAT YOU CAN LISTEN TO THEM, PARTICULARLY FROM HSD.
AS I SAID BEFORE, HSD IS NOT LISTENING TO ITS WORKERS, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[SILENCE] - I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION.
[SILENCE] - GOOD EVENING SUPERVISORS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
WE KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG, DIFFICULT AND EMOTIONAL DAY DISCUSSING CUTS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
AND WE ARE IN NO WAY STATING THAT WE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THOSE SERVICES.
BUT WE ARE ESSENTIAL AND THE WORK THAT WE DO IS CRITICAL TO THE COUNTY TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE ARE UPHOLDING BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATES FOR BOTH VICTIMS AND DEFENDANTS AND THE COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO LIVE IN A SAFE AND JUST COUNTY.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS LARGELY.
I'M AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AND THEN I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MY COUNTERPART, DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER MAX HARE.
SO IN TERMS OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, WE DO A LOT BEFORE THINGS EVEN GET TO COURT.
WE REVIEW THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF SEARCH WARRANTS.
WE REPON- RESPOND TO THE SCENES OF CRITICAL INCIDENTS, INCLUDING HOMICIDES, VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTERS.
WE REVIEW EVERY CRIME REPORT IN THIS COUNTY, EVERY SINGLE ONE.
WE FILE ONLY ABOUT HALF, SO THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF DISCRETION IN EDITING THAT WE DO TO TRY TO BOTH PRESERVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND USE RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY AND SENSIBLY.
IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT WORK.
WE DEAL WITH CHILD MOLEST CASES, WE HAVE TO REVIEW CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT ABUSE MATERIAL, WE LOOK AT AUTOPSY PHOTOS, WE SIT WITH PARENTS AND CHILDREN OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS AND EXPLAIN CASES WITH THEM.
WE BEAR WITNESS TO ANGUISH EVERY DAY IN OUR JOB.
IT IS A JOB THAT INVOLVES A HIGH LEVEL OF BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TRAUMA, BOTH FOR US AND FOR OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER COUNTERPARTS.
THIS JOB IS GETTING EVEN MORE DIFFICULT WITH DATA.
EVERYBODY'S CARRYING A CELLPHONE.
SO NOW IT IS NOT JUST A 20-PAGE POLICE REPORT.
WE HAVE 20 BODY CAMS THAT WE'RE REVIEWING, 20 VEHICLES CAMS THAT WE'RE REVIEWING, AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PAGES FROM COMPUTERS AND PHONES.
SO WHILE STAFFING HAS LARGELY REMAINED THE SAME, THE AMOUNT OF WORK WE ARE ASKING OUR ATTORNEYS TO DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY.
WE ALSO STAFF NUMEROUS COLLABORATIVE COURTS LIKE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COURT, VETERANS COURT, WE DO A NEIGHBORHOOD COURT WHERE WE TRY TO DIVERT CRIMES AND CREATE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES, AND WE ALSO DO INCREDIBLE OUTREACH.
I'VE SEEN SUPERVISOR HERNANDEZ AT MANY SOUTH COUNTY EVENTS AND HIS STAFF DOING THINGS LIKE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, PRESENTS DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND PROM EVENTS.
WE VALUE THIS COMMUNITY AND WE PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT IN.
DESPITE THAT, UH, AND DESPITE THE APPEARANCE OF BEING FULLY STAFFED, WE BOTH FACE INCREDIBLE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ISSUES.
[08:05:04]
THIS PRESENTATION WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE GIVEN BY OUR PRESIDENT.SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT SHE WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE LAST LATERAL HIRE THAT WE'VE HAD OF A QUALIFIED ATTORNEY WAS 6 YEARS AGO.
THERE IS NO QUALIFIED ATTORNEY THAT HAS COME IN AFTER ME.
OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS, WE'VE HAD ONLY 13 APPLICANTS TO MORE SENIOR ATTORNEY POSITIONS, DESPITE ONGOING RECRUITMENT, CONTINUOUS AND OPEN RECRUITMENT, NONE OF WHICH WERE HIREABLE.
WE HAVE HAD... THREE OF OUR LAST NEWEST HIRES, THE YOUNGEST ATTORNEYS THAT WE'RE JUST HOPING TO TRAIN UP, THEY QUIT BEFORE THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD WAS OVER.
BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS INCREDIBLY HEAVY, DIFFICULT WORK.
NOT EVERY ATTORNEY CAN DO VICTIM FOCUSED WORK, DEFENDANT FOCUSED WORK, LOOK AT THE KIND OF MATERIAL THAT WE ARE ASKING THEM TO LOOK AT.
OUR MOST RECENT ROUND OF RECRUITMENT FOR OUR MOST INEXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS, ATTORNEYS I, PRODUCED NO QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO TAKE ON THE JOB.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE HIGH HIGH STUDENT LOANS.
I GRADUATED WITH $200,000 IN STUDENT LOANS.
AND WE ARE NOW FACING PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS, WHICH WAS A CRITICAL REASON I WAS ABLE TO DO THIS JOB.
BEING ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK FEDERALLY, I SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN OCTOBER.
THAT DEPARTMENT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN YOUNG ATTORNEYS? APPLICATIONS FOR DA'S POSITIONS ARE DOWN STATEWIDE.
I PARTICIPATE IN OUR CALIFORNIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION EVERYWHERE STRUGGLING.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYBODY COME IN AFTER ME.
AND ON JUNE 5TH, 2023, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER RELYING ON GRAND JURY REPORTS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HALF OF THE OFFERS TO OUR BRAND NEW PUBLIC DEFENDERS WERE BEING REJECTED.
BECAUSE ONCE THEY CAME HERE AND THEY LOOKED AT THE COST OF LIVING IN THIS SPECIFIC COUNTY, THEY REALIZED THEY COULD NOT DO THE JOB.
AND WE WERE COMPETING OVER THE HILL WITH SANTA CLARA.
THAT BRINGS ME TO THE POINT OF COMPARISON COUNTIES.
SO THE COMP COUNTIES THAT WE'RE USING ARE FROM 2002.
COST OF LIVING IN SANTA CRUZ IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DIFFERENT THAN 2002, AND OUR GRAND JURY REPORTS DID STATE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT COUNTIES THAT ARE MORE COMPARABLE, WHO ARE GOING TO POACH OUR MORE QUALIFIED ATTORNEYS.
FOR EXAMPLE, ALAMEDA COUNTY IS INCLUDED WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT PAY INCREASES FOR OUR CONFLICT DEFENSE ATTORNEYS.
BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR IN-HOUSE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC.
ADDITIONALLY, MANY COUNTIES HAVE LONGEVITY DIFFERENTIALS NOW AT 10 YEARS, RECOGNIZING THAT'S A CRITICAL STAGE OF AN ATTORNEY'S COMPETENCE, UM, 15 YEARS.
AND HERE WE DON'T, WE JUST HAVE IT AT 20 YEARS AS KIND OF A GOLDEN HANDSHAKE.
SO HOW ARE WE RETAINING CRITICAL ATTORNEYS? SO OUR POSITION IS THAT WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK CRITICALLY AT WHO OUR COMPARISON COUNTIES ARE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE PAYING OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES AND HOW WE'RE TRYING TO BRING THEM IN.
LOOK AT LONGEVITY A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY GIVEN THE CHANGING IN THE WORKFORCE AND HOW PEOPLE ARE MORE MOBILE AND ARE LESS LIKELY TO STAY.
AND ALSO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WE CAN OFFER LOCAL STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND RECOGNITION THAT WE NEED TO BRING IN AND TRAIN NEW ATTORNEYS.
SO NOW I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO MAX, WHO CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE FACING.
- THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, EVERYBODY.
I'M A DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER HERE IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
AND I REPRESENT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER MEMBERS, AS PART OF OUR BARGAINING UNIT.
SO THE REPORT WAS THAT THERE'S 3% VACANCY FOR OUR BARGAINING UNIT.
IT'S ACTUALLY CURRENTLY 0% FOR MY OFFICE.
BUT THAT DOESN'T TELL THE ENTIRE STORY.
'CAUSE THAT'S AS OF, I THINK APRIL 11TH.
AND MY OFFICE IS ONLY ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD.
IT'S ONLY BEEN 3 YEARS SINCE IT WAS A COUNTY DEPARTMENT.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR HEATHER ROGERS SPEAK ABOUT OUR OFFICE, YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS CREATED WITH AN INTENTION AND AN INNOVATIVE PURPOSE OF HOLISTIC AND VERTICAL REPRESENTATION.
MEANING WE STAY WITH OUR CLIENTS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, WE DO NOT HAND THEM OFF TO OTHER ATTORNEYS.
WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO HELP THEM, NOT JUST WITH THEIR CASE, BUT WITH OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES IN THEIR LIVES THAT WE THINK, UM, PRODUCES RECIDIVISM AND LEADS TO THEM BEING WRAPPED UP IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
MORE WORK THAN MOST OTHER OFFICES WHO DO NOT COMBINE HOLISTIC AND VERTICAL REPRESENTATION PUT INTO THEIR CASES.
BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE NOT JUST FOCUSED ON ONE ASPECT OF REPRESENTATION.
AND, AND THIS MEANS THAT IT'S MORE WORK PER CASE, BUT OUR CASELOADS ARE COMPARABLE TO OTHER COUNTIES
[08:10:01]
THAT ARE NOT DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK.ADDITIONALLY, WE HAD, SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 0%, BUT WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS THAT WE WERE CREATED AS AN OFFICE, WE LOST 16 OF OUR 32 MEMBERS.
FIVE OF THOSE 16 WERE ATTORNEY ONES, THE REST WERE MORE SENIOR ATTORNEYS.
ALL FIVE OF THOSE ATTORNEY ONES WERE ATTORNEYS OF COLOR.
THREE OF THEM WENT TO, UH, COMPETITIVE OFFICES IN THE BAY AREA, SANTA CLARA, SAN FRANCISCO, AND SOLANO.
AND WHILE OVER THE LAST, UH, YEAR AND A HALF, BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS SINCE ABOUT JANUARY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REACH FULL CAPACITY AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE THOSE PEOPLE WHO LEFT.
ESPECIALLY FOR THE MORE SENIOR ATTORNEYS, IT HASN'T BEEN WITH...
IT'S BEEN WITH ATTORNEYS WITH EXPERIENCE BUT NOT EXPERIENCE IN THIS COUNTY.
AND SOMETIMES NOT EXPERIENCED IN THIS STATE.
SO FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE TWO MORE SENIOR ATTORNEYS, ATTORNEY FOUR'S, WHO UH, TOOK THE...
THIS IS THEIR FIRST CALIFORNIA STATE JOB, AFTER PRACTICING IN THE STATES WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
AND THEY'RE GREAT ATTORNEYS BUT THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR HAVING THE EXPERIENCE OF PRACTICING IN THIS COUNTY.
SO I, I WAS INVITED HERE TO, TO REPORT ON ISSUES REGARDING RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MY MEMBERS.
SO THE, UH, WITH RESPECT TO RETENTION, I WOULD SAY THAT THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FROM MY MEMBERS ARE LONGEVITY BENEFITS.
SO MAKING SURE THAT THE, UH, PEOPLE, THE ATTORNEYS WHO WERE WORKING AT BCM, WHICH WAS THE FORMER, UH, LAW FIRM THAT CONTRACTED WITH THE COUNTY BEFORE IT BECAME A COUNTY MODEL, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE SERVICE HOURS THAT THEY PUT IN WHEN THEY WERE WORKING WITH BCM ARE REPRESENTED WHEN IT COMES TO ELIGIBILITY AND CALCULATING THEIR LONGEVITY BENEFIT.
THE SECOND ONE IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING A DEEP CLASS OR THE C CLASS, THE SUPERVISOR CLASS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CURRENTLY HAS AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE DOES NOT.
SO PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICE, ATTORNEYS IN OUR OFFICE WHO ARE SUPERVISING OTHER ATTORNEYS ARE NOT GETTING ANY KIND OF PAY DIFFERENTIAL FOR THOSE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY POSITIONS.
AS FAR AS RECRUITMENT GOES, AND I THINK THIS SPEAKS TO RETENTION AS WELL, COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS AND AS MS. APTER MENTIONED ALREADY, LOOKING AT COMPARISON COUNTIES, MY UNDERSTANDING AND I'VE ONLY LEARNED THIS RECENTLY, IS THAT THERE IS A GROUP OF COMPARISON COUNTIES THAT THE COUNTY AGREES UPON FOR ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT EQUITY ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS PRACTICAL.
IF, UH, YOU, YOU, YOU SHOULD BE, IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO LOOK AT WHERE ATTORNEYS ARE ACTUALLY LEAVING AND GOING TO AND WHERE WE ARE GETTING ATTORNEYS FROM.
AND THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
- IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
IF NOT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
[SILENCE] - SO WE HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO, FOR OUR PRESENTATION, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY, FOR ERIN AND I AND OUR TEAM.
- WELL, FIRST WE'LL TAKE IT TO THE PUBLIC, SEE IF THERE'S ANY, UH, COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC ON THIS ITEM.
SCOTT- SCOTTS VALLEY, BUT BEEN IN THE AREA FOR ABOUT 10 YEAR-, 8 YEARS.
AND I HAVE SOME LIVED EXPERIENCE IN THIS MATTER.
I, I GOT MY MPA, UH, LAST SUMMER, AND HAVE KIND OF BEEN ACTIVELY LOOKING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
AND I THINK MAYBE WHAT I WANTED TO UNDERSCORE, I'VE NOTICED ACROSS LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT.
THERE IS DISCLOSURE OF, UM, DISABILITY IN THE SENSE OF ADA AND, AND LEGAL ACCOMMODATION.
I THINK THAT INCREASINGLY, UM, EMPLOYERS ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN HIDDEN OR INVISIBLE DISABILITIES.
AND, UM, AND I WONDER JUST FROM THE COUNTY AND, AND AS YOU'RE USING AUTOMATION AND OTHER FORMS OF TOOLS.
THERE IS SOME RESEARCH THAT LOOKS AT THE POTENTIAL OF BIAS.
AND FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE EYE TRACKING ON, ON VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS, THERE'S SOFTWARE THAT, THAT, THAT IS USED COMMERCIALLY THAT CAN SCORE PEOPLE BASED ON NONVERBAL OR OTHER CUES, LIKE THAT, WHICH, UH, COULD BE A PART OF A DISABILITY OR, OR OTHER COMMUNICATION, UM, BARRIERS.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO ENCOURAGE THAT AS YOU'RE BECOMING MORE EFFICIENT,
[08:15:03]
THAT TO REALLY KEEP THAT, THAT SENSE OF, OF EQUITY AND UM, AND PARTICULARLY PEOPLE WHO ARE APPLYING WHO MAY HAVE HIDDEN OR INVISIBLE DISABILITIES.I SAW YOU HAD 8,000 APPLICANTS FOR 130 POSITIONS.
THAT'S AN ACCEPTANCE RATE OF 1.6%.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BEING SCREENED OUT, OF COURSE.
AND SO I THINK TO REALLY ENSURE THAT AS YOU'RE, UM, BECOMING MORE EFFICIENT, THAT YOU KEEP THE EFFECTIVENESS IN, IN THAT, THAT SAME MINDSET.
[SILENCE] - ANYONE ONLINE? [SILENCE] - I SEE NO SPEAKERS ONLINE, CHAIR.
- BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR...
- NO, ONLY COMMENT, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, SO THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT.
AND ACTUALLY I WAS, UM, FAIRLY IMPRESSED WITH THE VERY LIMITED VACANCIES WE HAVE.
I MEAN, WE HAD A LOT OBVIOUSLY IN HSA AND I HAVE SOME IDEAS ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN OUR PHYSICIAN GROUP, OF COURSE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST POTENTIALLY IT'S THE PAYMENT.
I THINK IT'S JUST WE CAN'T PAY WHAT THE HOSPITALS, ET CETERA, AND OTHER, UM, HEALTH GROUPS CAN MAKE.
BUT UM, SO THE MERIT SYSTEM I THINK DOES SCREEN OUT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY SHOULD BE SCREENED IN 'CAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT, IT'S REALLY ABOUT CAPACITY.
DOES THE PERSON HAVE THE CAPACITY TO RISE TO WHATEVER THE JOB IS? AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW THAT CAN BE IMPROVED IN THE FUTURE.
[SILENCE] - THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
DO WE NEED A ACCEPTANCE FILE OR...? [PAUSE] SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS.
- YEAH, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR PATIENCE HERE TODAY AS WELL.
I DID, UM, ACTUALLY WHEN THE ATTORNEYS WERE GIVING THEIR PRESENTATION AND TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FACTORS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, LIKE, YOU KNOW, TIME THAT PEOPLE HAD WORKED AT THE PREVIOUS FIRM BEFORE WE INCORPORATED, ADOPTED AND INCORPORATED PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IN THE COUNTY.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE COUNTY MIGHT BE DOING IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, AS IT RELATES TO COUNTING THE HOURS FROM THE PREVIOUS, UM, PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE AND HOW THOSE HOURS COUNT TOWARDS PEOPLE'S TIME WITH THE COUNTY.
AND THEN ALSO THEY MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT REFLECTS ON LONGEVITY BENEFITS AND BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS THAT WERE COMING UP DURING THOSE PRESENTATIONS.
- YEAH, SO ACTUALLY I WILL BE COMING TO CLOSED SESSION.
SO SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT THE GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS REPRESENTATIVES MENTIONED ARE ITEMS THAT ARE PART OF THEIR OPENING PROPOSAL.
AND THIS VENUE IS ACTUALLY IN THE TEXT OF THE LEGISLATION.
IT DOES SAY THAT THIS VENUE SHOULDN'T BE USED FOR BARGAINING.
AND SO, UM, I CAN SPEAK IN MORE DETAIL IN CLOSED SESSION ABOUT THEIR PROPOSAL AND THEIR ASK.
BUT IN GENERAL, UM, YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHEN WE TRANSITIONED FROM BIGGAM CHRISTENSEN & MINSLOFF, THE EMPLOYEES WHO WERE HIRED HERE FROM THAT LAW FIRM, THEY DID NOT CARRY OVER ANY COUNT, ANY SERVICE HOURS.
THEY WERE HIRED HERE AT THE COUNTY FRESH.
LIKE THEY DIDN'T CARRY OVER ANY SENIORITY IF THAT WAS YOUR QUESTION.
- AND [INAUDIBLE] MY QUESTION.
- AND THEY'VE BEEN ACCRUING SENIORITY AS THEY'VE BEEN HERE WITH US.
- OKAY, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DISCUSS.
- YEAH, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU, AS YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, THE CONCEPT OF LONGEVITY DIFFERENTIAL THAT WE HAVE IN ALL OF OUR OTHER CONTRACTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE 10 DIFFERENT LABOR GROUPS, IT'S THE SAME, WHICH IS THAT FOR THE PURPOSES OF LONGEVITY DIFFERENTIAL, WE USE THAT AS A RETENTION TOOL AND WE HOPE THAT FOLKS WILL STAY WITH US.
AND RIGHT NOW IN MOST ALL THE GROUPS, THE MAJORITY OF THE GROUPS, IT'S 3% EXTRA PAY FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.
AND THAT'S BEEN OUR RETENTION TOOL THAT WE'VE USED.
AND IN ALL OF THOSE CONTRACTS, IT'S ABOUT COUNTY SERVICE.
THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN HERE AT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY AS AN EMPLOYEE.
AND THEN I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE, THE CHALLENGES WITH HSD AND HSA AND I DO WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT WHEN FELIPE AND I JOINED THE BOARD, AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, I THINK THAT THE BOARD HAS REALLY BEEN INTERESTED IN TRYING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN IMPROVE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
AND I THINK THAT ONE, ONE GOOD THING IS THAT WE CAN, WE ARE DEMONSTRATING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS, IS EFFECTIVE AT IMPROVING AND WORKING ON IMPROVING THAT.
AND SO I JUST REALLY WANNA APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THEN I GUESS THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW MUCH...
IS THERE A WAY FOR US TO TRACK WORKLOAD WITH NUMBER POSITIONS? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY AS THINGS CHANGE OVER TIME, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE PEOPLE, MORE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY IN THE COMMUNITY, OR WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE ENTERING INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL FOR WORKLOAD TO INCREASE WITH THE NUMBER OF CURRENT POSITIONS WE HAVE, IS THERE?
[08:20:03]
AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO TRACK THAT BECAUSE TO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP, IF WE HAVE VACANCIES OR IF...EVEN IF WE HAVE FULL DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, ALL THE POSITIONS FILLED, HOW IS THE WORKLOAD CHANGING OVER TIME? 'CAUSE THAT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY STICKS AROUND OR, OR NOT.
- YEAH, SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS DIFFERENT STANDARDS AND MEASURING TOOLS FOR WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR OPERATIONS.
I THINK THAT MANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS DO TRACK CASELOADS, WORKLOADS, I THINK, FOR EXAMPLE, SEIU SPOKE ABOUT BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE, ANSWER PHONE CALLS ALL DAY LONG AND HELP PEOPLE WITH FOOD STAMPS, ET CETERA.
SO I KNOW THAT FROM TALKING TO THAT DEPARTMENT, THEY ACTUALLY DO MONI- LIKE TRACK THE NUMBER OF CALLS AND THEY DO KNOW HOW MANY POSITIONS THEY HAVE FILLED, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THE FLOOR ANSWERING PHONES.
SO I THINK THAT EACH DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR WAY OF MEASURING.
AND OF COURSE IF YOU WANTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTS AND HOW THEY MEASURE WORKLOAD AND WHAT THE STANDARDS ARE I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO JOIN SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT HEADS TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS, ALL OF OUR LABOR AGREEMENTS DO NOT HAVE CASELOAD STANDARDS.
THIS IS LEFT UPON DEPARTMENTS TO MANAGE THAT AND MANAGE THE WORKLOADS AND ASSIGN CASES AS NEED AND MEASURE.
- I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE TO IMPROVE THE HIRING PROCESS AND UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT SUCCESS, AS YOU SAID IN WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
SO I THINK IF WE LOOKED AT THAT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE LIKE 20, 24% VACANCY IN CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
SO BIG, BIG STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE AND I WANNA CELEBRATE SUCCESS WHERE I SEE IT.
- SO WITH THAT, WITH THAT ALSO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, AND WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE THE HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
- I'LL MOVE THE RECOMMENDED ACTION.
- WE HAVE A MOTION FROM SUPERVISOR CUMMINGS AND A SECOND FROM SUPERVISOR DE SERPA.
IF WE COULD TAKE THE ROLL CALL.
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 6.3, WHICH WAS [INAUDIBLE].
[62. Adopt resolution accepting grant funds for Coastal Rail Trail Segments 10 and 11, approve contract amendment with RRM Design Group, and take related actions]
- 62, THIS WAS 62.AT THIS POINT, I THINK I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE ITEM.
- OH, WE NEED TO OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC WISHES TO [INAUDIBLE] THIS ISSUE? ANYONE ONLINE? - I SEE NO SPEAKERS ONLINE, BUT IF WE COULD RESTATE THE SECONDER OF THE MOTION.
- DE SERPA WAS, UH, MADE THE MOTION.
[PAUSE] ALL RIGHT, IF WE COULD TAKE A ROLL CALL.
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY AND MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THE NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING WILL BE AT 9:00 AM TUESDAY, MAY 6TH, NEXT TUESDAY.
[SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [SILENCE] [END]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.