Here’s what you need to know

  • Madera County Employees signed and submitted a petition to the Madera County Board of Supervisors due to their concerns about inaccuracies with the county payroll system. Multiple county employees and a union representative attended this meeting to express their frustration and call for action. 
  • Presentation of a proclamation recognizing October 23 through October 31 as ‘Red Ribbon Week’. Connie, Director of Bureau Services, accepted the proclamation. She spoke about the lasting impact alcohol, methamphetamine, and marijuana have had on the county.
  • The supervisors approved the Madera County Flood Control and Water Conservation Agency Flood Safety Plan
  • The supervisors approved establishing a Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) Other Post-Employment Benefit (OPEB) Account. A representative from PARS said it would, “offer a hedge against inflation.” 

Follow-up questions

  • How will the county work to better serve its employees to continue to attract quality hires?
  • Will the board act quickly to address the overwhelming concern regarding Madera County employee pay stubs regulatory reporting inaccurate?

Notes

The Scene

The Madera County Board of Supervisors meeting regularly takes place at 9 a.m. on the first three Tuesdays of every month. The date of this week’s meeting was Tuesday, October 18, 2022. The meetings are located at 200 W. Fourth Street, Madera, California. Alternatively, the meetings are streamed on Webex and can be found on the Madera County Website to view after the live stream.

The purpose of the Madera County Board of Supervisors is to provide Directors of 49 subdivided Maintenance Districts and 21 Service Areas throughout Madera County.

Madera County Board of Supervisors Members present:

Others Present:

  • Leroy Gaffney (opening prayer)
  • Donald Michael Social Worker 4
  • Lisa Moreno Union Representative
  • Gabriel Navia
  • Chief Probation Officer Childers
  • Sheriff Pogue
  • Executive Assistant Valarie Mole
  • Probation Officer Sophia Barka
  • Probation Officer Alyssa perez
  • Michael Amari
  • Connie, Director of Bureau Services
  • Mitch Barker PARS representative 
  • Michael Wiens PARS representative
  • Andrea Saldate
  • Jessica Leon
  • Michael May
  • Stephanie Anagnoson

Actions/Discussions/Public comment

There were no additions to the agenda.

Closed Session

The closed session discussion covered item 9064. 9064 is a conference with labor negotiators regarding all employees but excluding elected officials. Item 9065 was a discussion with legal counsel for ongoing litigation in the Sandra Smith v. County of Madera. 9066 will cover anticipated litigation, and the board will receive legal counsel. 

Public Comment

At the start of each meeting, 15 minutes are set aside to allow for public comment. There were a few constituents in line to speak and they all had the opportunity to do so.

  1. Donald Michael Alan works for the County of Madera. His classification is social worker 4. He believes Madera County employees are very important to keeping the county functioning. He says it is unacceptable that their pay stubs are inaccurately reflecting pay rates, accrued vacation times, comp time, and pay balances. He expresses the hardship he and other county employees have faced due to being overpaid and money being withdrawn from their accounts without their authorization. He says inaccurate paystubs will not allow him to provide proof of income if need be. He presented a petition to the board.
  2. A union representative for the county, Lisa Moreno, appeared to discuss the hardship county workers have been facing due to inaccurate pay and unauthorized removal of money from employees’ accounts. She spoke specifically about one case of a new mother, employed by the county, who has struggled since the start of her employment due to the mismanagement by the county regarding employee payroll. Lisa thanked them for their time and for reviewing the previously submitted petition.
  3. Gabriel Navia is employed to make sure the County of Madera has clean water. He is asking the board to ensure that HR does its job so he can continue to do his. The last couple of months has been stressful for him because the company is handling matters in an inconsistent and unprofessional manner. He has struggled to have his insurance paid and has been given the runaround when trying to solve this issue. He too has been deemed overpaid and money is withdrawn from his account without his authorization. 
  4. Chief Probation Officer Childers and accompanying staff spoke about Breast Cancer Awareness Month. He was accompanied by Sheriff Pogue, Executive Assistant Valarie Mole,  and Probation Officers Sophia Barka and  Alyssa Perez. They detailed the fundraiser that originated in Madera County, the Pink Patch Project. The Pink Patch Project raises funds to be donated to Marjorie E. Radin Center at Clovis Community Hospital. Law enforcement in the local area will be selling pink patches to the public at the cost of $10.00 each. 100% of the proceeds will be donated. Poythress will purchase two. Last year, over $135,000 dollars was raised and this year they hope to surpass it.
  5. Michael Amari is a constituent who was born and raised in Madera County. He urged the board to consider his financial analysis of the current situation the county is approaching because of the GSF fee on property taxes.

Consent Calendar

Approval of minutes from October 11, 2022. Approved (5-0)

90588 asked for consideration of approval of the Board of Supervisors Meeting Calendar for 2023. Approved (5-0)

9032: The board considered entering an Amendment to MCC No. 11834-21 with EnCode. The Term and Scope of Services will be amended with the amount of $3,980.00. The amendment will provide an enhanced presentation of the North Fork Village Specific Plan and grant the Chairman authority to sign. Approved (5-0)

9047: September 2022 monthly report of employee transactions. Approved (5-0)

9048: The board considered entering into an agreement with the Madera County Workforce Investment Corporation. The board will allocate no more than $91,389.00 for job readiness workshops, career development assessments, and providing resource services for the Pre-Release population. The program will be under the supervision of the Department of Corrections and will begin providing services for the Post-Release population under the Community Supervision of the Probation Department for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF Grant) will provide an additional $33,843 and grant the Chairman permission to sign.

The program funding will total to $125,232.00. Approved (5-0)

Item 9000 asks the board to consider entering into an MOU with Camarena Health for a one-year term. The agreement would provide breastfeeding support services to eligible families from the WIC Program. Approved (5-0)

The public works department/administration services division requests the Board’s consideration for approval of the request for transfer of appropriations in item 9028.

(4 votes required to pass)

Contingencies to Buildings & Improvements: $80,000.00 

Office Expense: $5,000.00

Total amount: $85,000.00

Approved(5-0)

9050 asks the board to consider adopting a resolution accepting the dedication to the County of Madera as recorded in documents 2010016051 and 2010016052. Approved (5-0)

The Board considers entering into an Agreement with Shared Vision Consultants in item 9034. The amount of the contract will not exceed $96,450.00. The company will be tasked with developing Madera County’s next 5-year System Improvement plan. The goal is to improve outcomes for youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system. Approved(5-0)

9003: The water and natural resources department requests the board’s consideration to adopt the Madera County Flood Control and Water Conservation Agency Flood Safety Plan. Approved (5-0)

District No. 28, Ripperdan to be provided a short-term cash advance not to exceed the principal amount of $300,000.00 through item 9003. Item 9003 authorizes the insurance and sale of a 2022 Grant Anticipation note. Approved(5-0)

Item 9051 contained three parts. First, it asked for consideration to adopt a resolution for a cash flow loan for Maintenance District 33, Fairmead. Next, it sought approval for a Transfer of Appropriations No. 22-027 in the amount of $100,000.00 from Road Mitigation-Fund Balance to Cash Flow Loan for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Lastly, consideration and approval of a Receipt of Unanticipated Revenue No. 22-027 in the amount of $100,000.00 from MD33. Money will go directly to maintenance expenses-DEGS for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. (4 votes required to pass)

Approved(5-0)

Supervisor Rogers mentioned two questions concerning items 9003 and 9051. He asks what is the funding for 9003 going to accomplish in terms of repairs? 

Andrea Saldati from public works informed the board that the funding will be used for updating safety measures with the wells, creating solidarity amongst districts, and treatment of water. 

Supervisor Rogers asks if the funding from item 9051 is being proposed for routine repairs or outstanding repairs? He questions if the funding is needed due to people not paying their bills. 

Andrea Saldati confirmed that the funding is required for regular operation and maintenance of the system because of the outstanding balances on constituents bills.

9035: consideration to adopt the Madera County Flood Control and Water Conservation Agency Flood Safety Plan. Approved(5-0)

9056: Amendment to the MCC No. 11739B-22 with Davids Engineering. Amount: $200,000.00. The funds will provide support for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Approved(5-0)

Discussion Items

9030: Presentation of Proclamation recognizing October 23-31, 2022 as Red Ribbon Week. Connie, Director of Bureau Services, accepted the proclamation. Prevention Coordinator at Behavioral Health Services, China Parker, read the proclamation aloud and spoke about the importance of striving towards a drug free society. The theme of this year is, “Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free.”

9069: Proposes a discussion to consider adopting a resolution to establish a Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) and Other Post-Employment Benefit (OPEB) Account:

  • Discussion and consideration to adopt a Resolution to establish a Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) Other Post-Employment Benefit (OPEB) Account. 
  • PARS will provide pre-funded pension obligations and/or other OPEB obligations from November 1, 2022 to November 1, 2025 per the agreement. 
  • PARS representatives. Mitch Barker, provided a brief powerpoint presentation on the benefits of the program. 
    • There will be a ‘pay as we go’ system implemented. This means no prefunding and no plan assets. 
    • The cost constituents would pay is based on the actual cost of the health care and considers the number of eligible retirees. 
  • Michael Wiens from PARS suggests to the board that adopting this resolution is imperative to ‘smooth out pension volatility rates, offer a hedge against inflation, provide a fiscal tool in your financial toolbox, and prepare today for tomorrow’s Pension OPEB realties.’ 
  • Supervisor Wheeler expressed approval of the presentation. 
  • Supervisor Rogers mentions that typically on these types of decisions he tends to lean more conservative, and he is more cautious of the plan. 
    • He says the plan sounds good and he likes the idea of investing to keep up with the rate of inflation. However, he is weary of the VAR (value at risk). 
    • He asks what assurance can we have? 
    • PARS representative responded that he has personally gone through the struggle of  bankruptcy and understands the difficulty of the process. 
    • He says that prohibited asset classes will protect the staff and give the Board of Supervisors peace of mind. 
  • Michael Wiens wanted to address potential conflict of interest and reaffirm that PARS main goal is to serve its clients. Approved (5-0).

9054: annexation of property from a Future Annexation Area into Improvement Area 1 and direct the Clerk of the Board to record Amendment No. 1 to Notice of Special Tax Lien to Improvement Area 1. annexation of property from a Future Annexation Area into Improvement Area 2 and direct the Clerk of the Board to record Amendment No. 1 to Notice of Special Tax Lien to Improvement Area 2. approved (5-0)

9068: Madera County Economic Development Commission will administer the Madera County American Rescue Plan Small Business Assistance Program with $50,735.71 in funding. Jessica Leon from County Administration spoke to the board and notified them that this program would be similar to the CARES program from 2020. The program would allow businesses to receive a grant if they filed bankruptcy in 2020 due to the pandemic. The business may also be a new emerging business from the years 2020 and 2021. She recommends approving this contract with EDC. Approved (5-0)

9053: Amend Class Specifications and Set Salary for the following Unclassified Positions: Paid On-Call Firefighter and Paid On-Call Driver Operator set at $18.00/Hourly, effective October 1, 2022 and Paid On-Call Driver Operator to $21.00/Hourly, effective October 1, 2022. Approved (5-0)

9060: Michael May from Human Resources spoke to the board about electing to be subject to the Public Employee’s Medical and Hospital Care Act effective January 1, 2023. It is directly for elected officials and it is optional. Allows officers to participate in CAL PERS health insurance program without participating in the CAL PERS retirement program. Approved (5-0)

9052: Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. proposes an agreement in the amount of $500,000.00 for five years to provide professional financial analysis services for Fiscal Years 2022- 2027. Stephanie Anagnoson, Director of water and natural resources, spoke to the board about the services that the agreement will provide. She spoke of general cost increases. Approved (5-0)

Public Hearings

8936: Andrea Soldoti from Public Works spoke to the board about the consideration to adopt a resolution for providing the future annexation area to a Community Facilities District. This public hearing is the final step in doing so. No public comment. Board approved (5-0).

9049: Short presentation and update on Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies by Andrea Soldoti: 

  • Madera Subbasin GSPs – Comment letter from DWR states they must improve coordination, subsidence, ground water levels, and interconnected surface water. 
  • The 2022 Verification Project will provide results ahead of the 2024 irrigation season. 
  • Supervisor Rogers stressed the importance of conserving water long term to maintain the value of farming land in Madera County. 
  • Public comment from Jack is to not rush and to make sure farmers have enough time to work through these changes. 
  • Public comment from Madeline at Leadership Council, wanted to note the 180-day period is appreciated but she wants to note how thoughtfully we should be looking at groundwater levels and criteria. She believes the focus should be on improving those levels immediately. 

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters-admin@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

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