March 21, 2023 — Madera County Board of Supervisors
Documented by Trong Yang
Here’s what you need to know
- The board passed (5-0) an agreement with Cal.Net, Inc. A Delaware Corp. for the installation of broadband equipment to provide broadband services in western Madera County. This will be the most cost-efficient option for rural communities to have high speed internet.
- Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, requested that the board send a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom related to a one-time $1.5 billion relief package for California’s hospital system. This letter will attempt to support the creation of long-term stability for the state’s health care system. The board passed the motion (5-0).
- The board passed (5-0) an agreement with Madera Unified School District for the purpose of providing preventive dental services to students.
Follow-up questions
- Where will the funding for the installation of broadband equipment come from?
The Board
Chairman David Rogers
Robert L Poythress
Jordan Wamhoff
Leticia Gonzalez
Robert Macaulay
The Madera County Board of Supervisors meets on the first three Tuesdays of each month and occasionally on Monday in the Board Chambers of the County Government Center in Madera. Meetings are also made available through Zoom and Youtube. On Tuesday, March 21, the meeting was held at 9 a.m.
Actions/Discussions/Public comment
Reportable Actions from Closed Session
The board (5-0) approved five new Opioid Litigation Settlements with the following five defendants (Item 2b: County of Madera vs. AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp.)
- CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Teva, Allergan
The board also authorized the County Counsel to sign the State Subdivision Settlement Agreement and the Participation Agreement.
Public Comments
Tony Ward addressed the board to express his gratitude for their efforts to keep the community safe from the rain and power outages.
“The first night the lights went out, my wife of 67 years fell and had a pelvic fracture,” Tony said.
His problem grew when the only road in and out of his neighborhood was impossible to drive on due to the mud from the rain. He called Rogers and the road was fixed a few days later.
Chris Edstrom, an IHSS provider, said he has taken care of his autistic son for 38 years and spoke on the struggles that came from the pandemic.
“We were designated essential personnel. Unfortunately, the county does not believe so. It is insulting to hear that the county values the IHSS Program and knows its importance and then offers us a nickel in our bargain,” Chris said.
He asks the county to show them the respect they deserve and give them a livable wage increase that matches that.
Connie Moreno-Peraza, director of Behavioral Health Services, congratulates Assistant Director Julie Morgan on her retirement after 19+ years of serving people with behavioral health conditions.
Consent Calendar
The board unanimously approved items A to L on the consent calendar:
A.9348: The board approved the Transfer of Appropriations No. 22-141 in the amount of $60,000 from Animal Services – Professional & Specialized Services to Equipment/Furniture for $5,000 for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
B.9317: The board approved entering into an Amendment to MCC No. 11761-20 with Pro-West & Associates for an additional $26,310.24 to an amount not to exceed $952,006.90 and extending the Term Date to June 30, 2023 for parcel fabric development.
They also approved the Transfer of Appropriations No. 22-132 of $104,000.00 from GIS Layer Redraw – Intrafund Transfer to Professional & Specialized Services for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
C.9332: The board passed an amendment to MCC No. 12221-22 with WestCare California, Inc. increasing compensation and costs to an amount not to exceed $685,562.87 for Crisis Care Mobile Units for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
D.9346: The Board adopted a resolution authorizing special assessment on real property pursuant to Madera County Code Chapter 8.01 entitled Administrative Citations and Penalties.
E.9349: The Board approved the Receipt of Unanticipated Revenue No. 22- 136 in the amount of $40,316 derived from the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund – Federal Other to Special Departmental Expense for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
F.9325: The board passed an Amendment to MCC No. 11315A-21 with Commercial Cleaning Systems amending compensation and costs to amounts listed on the proposal in Exhibit A for janitorial services and extending the term date to Jan. 1, 2026.
G.9342: The board approved entering into an amendment to MCC No. 11216-18 with Patagonia Health, Inc. to amend compensation and services to include the Add-On Sales Agreement 2022 – User Licenses, add new Subsection 4 to Section 3.1, and add new Section 9.10 “Non-appropriation of funds” to the contract, for the electronic medical record/practice management system software.
H.9347: The board passed an agreement with Madera Unified School District for the purpose of providing preventive dental services to students and education regarding the oral health assessment for fiscal years 2022-2027.
I.9373: The board passed an agreement with Flock Group, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $130,550 for software, hardware and camera equipment for the Sheriff’s Office for a five-year term.
J.9341: The board approved the reappointment of Jorge DeNava, Central Valley Opportunity Center, to the Workforce Development Board (WDB) for an additional three-year term to expire April 4, 2026.
K.9326: The board passed an agreement with MLJ Environmental in an amount not to exceed $160,000 for performance of professional engineering consultation services for MS4 permit compliance for Calendar Years 2023-2025.
L.9340: The board adopted a resolution fixing time and place for a Public Hearing for continuation of a Special Assessment for Road Maintenance Purposes for Assessment District No. 89-1, Pines Tract on May 16th, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.
Discussion Items
Item 6.a: Public Health Department has pushed their Mobile Health Units presentation and has been removed from today’s meeting agenda.
Item 6.b: The board approved (5-0) a five-year fee waiver by the Bass Lake Chamber to waive the Bass Lake Pollution Control boat registration fees.
Item 6.c: The board passed (5-0) an agreement with Cal.Net, Inc. A Delaware Corp. in the amount of $1,274,575.00 for the installation of broadband equipment to provide broadband services in Western Madera County and approved Receipt of Unanticipated Revenue No. 22-138 in the amount of $1,500,000 derived from County Broadband – Operating transfer in to Buildings & Improvements for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
“The lack of internet infrastructure in rural communities makes this a very viable option and the only short term and cost-efficient option for internet access,” said Madeline Harris from the Leadership Counsel.
Public Hearing
The board approved (5-0) both items under 7. a: Board of Directors Groundwater Sustainability Agency/Water and Natural Resources Department Hearing
- Amending the Joint Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Madera Subbasin and authorizing the director of Water and Natural Resources to take any and all action necessary to submit a Revised Joint Groundwater Sustainability Plan to the Department of Water Resources.
- Amending the Joint Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Madera Subbasin which is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to Water Code section 10728.6, as well as CEQA Guidelines sections 15307, 15308, and 15061(b)(3).
- 15307: action of a regulatory agency to protect natural resources
- 15308: action of a regulatory agency to protect the environment
- 15061(b)(3): the “common sense” exemption where a project is exempt if it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment
Pending Legislation
County Counsel for the County of Madera Regina A. Garza addressed the council to discuss the state Assembly bill that would help create CEQA exemptions for fire-prone areas.
The board authorized (5-0) a Letter of Support for AB 692 as authored by Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, relating to egress route projects for fire safety.
Added Items to the Agenda
The board approved (5-0) sending a Letter of Support to the California Department of Aging in Sacramento, which relates to an item on Local Aging and Disability Action Planning Grant Program.
Caballero requested that the board send a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom related to a one-time $1.5 billion relief package for California’s hospital system. This letter will attempt to support the creation of long-term stability for the state’s health care system. The Board passed a motion (5-0).
The meeting was adjourned at 12:03 p.m. The Madera County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet again on April 4 for their regular meeting.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.