March 28, 2023 — Kings County Board of Supervisors
Documented by Josef Sibala
Here’s what you need to know:
- During its March 28 meeting, the King County Board of Supervisors amended the Senate Bill 1383 requirements ordinance. The amendments include extending the hauler license term to 10 years and adding an appeal process, which allows haulers to petition any potential revocation of their license due to breach of contract.
- The board adopted a resolution for the Transitional Housing Program (THP) and Housing Navigation and Maintenance Programs (HNMP) authorizing the application for and acceptance of the program allocations.The THP Round Four allocation amount for Kings County is $176,013. The HNMP Round One allocation amount for Kings County is $109,764.
- As of Monday next week, masking will no longer be required in indoor and high-risk health care settings, including long-term care facilities, correctional facilities and homeless, emergency and cooling centers.
Follow-up questions:
- When will the Transitional Housing Program (THP) and Housing Navigation and Maintenance Programs (HNMP) be implemented?
- How will the amendment to the ordinance for Senate Bill 1383 be enforced?
- What do county health care officials say about ending the masking requirements in high-risk health care settings?
- When will all Covid regulations in the County end?
The Scene
According to its website, Kings County is a “general law” county, meaning the state constitution and general law determine the county’s governmental structure.
The board of Supervisors is the governing body for Kings County and many county special districts. Each of the board’s five members is elected on a nonpartisan basis to a four-year term.
The board sets policies and depends on the county administrator, county officials and department heads to fulfill its wishes.
The board has administrative, legislative and quasi-judicial duties and responsibilities prescribed by the California State Constitution and Statutes.
On Tuesday, March. 28, 2023, the meeting was held at 9 a.m. in the board chambers at 1400 West Lacey Blvd. in Administration Building No. 1 in Hanford.
Kings County County board of Supervisors Members present:
- Joe Neves, District 1 (Lemoore & Stratford)
- Richard Valle, District 2 (Avenal, Corcoran, Home Garden & Kettleman City)
- Doug Verboon, District 3 (North Hanford, Island District & North Lemoore)
- Rusty Robinson, District 4 (Armona & Hanford)
- Richard Fagundes, District 5 (Hanford & Burris Park)
Others Present:
- Sheriff David Robinson
- Community Development Director Chuck Kinney
- County Administrative Officer Edward Hill
- Assistant County Administrative Officer Kyria Martinez
- Administrative Officer Analyst Domingo Cruz
- Assessor/Clerk/Recorder Kristine Lee
- Public Works Director Dominic Tyburski
- Public Health Director Rose Mary Rahn
- Public Health Assistant Director Heather Silva
- Diane Badasci
- Jay Wood
- Sarah Harp
- Wendy Osikafo
- Christine Olvera
- Clarissa Ravelo
- Tyler Pepe
- Mjewell
- Melissa Kevorkian
- Eldrick W.
- John Bsmajian Criscom
- Katie Arnst
- Travis Day
- J Eckles
- Atonya Moore
- Edward Neals
- Phil Hansen
- Renee Missakian
- NRRencher
Discussions/Actions
Edward Neals from District 5 urged the board to send updates to the residents regarding water.
Sheriff David Robinson has communicated with three of the major westside farmers in taking much of the water out of the lake bottom.Challenges remain, such as old pipes that need repair, he said.
The board (5-0) approved the following:
A. The board approved the minutes from the meeting on March 18.
B. The board approved the minutes from the special meeting for March 21.
In the consent calendar, the board (5-0) unanimously approved items as follows:
A. Agricultural Department:
1. The board approved the cooperative agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the county’s Exotic Pest Detection Program retroactively from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
Revenues of $114,758 for this program are included in the fiscal year 2022-23 budget in Budget Until 260000, Account 85043 (State Aid-Agriculture).
The Agricultural commissioner deploys and services insect traps according to state procedures established by this agreement to protect agriculture and the public from introducing exotic insects.
Through early detection, the likelihood of these pests becoming widely established in the state is lessened. Therefore, the cost and environmental impact of eradication is minimized.
This agreement is from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
This is an ongoing program; however, the current agreement from the California Department of Food and Agriculture was offered to Kings County on March 3, 2023. The work plan to produce this agreement was submitted on time on March 24, 2022, by the Kings County Department of Agriculture.
B. Behavioral Health Department:
1. The board approved the quality assurance manager position in Behavioral Health to allocate flexibly to a clinical program manager.
The cost to flexibly allocate the position for the remainder of the fiscal year 2022-23 is approximately $24,746 due to the prorated start date of mid-April.
The department’s fiscal year 2022-23 requested budget includes sufficient appropriations to absorb the recommended actions for 2022-23.
On May 17, 2022, the board approved having the Behavioral Health Department add a flexible allocation of all program manager positions to allow for the flexible allocation between the program manager, Behavioral Health or Public Health, or the Clinical program manager.
Currently, the department requests the same flexible allocation to be extended to the Quality Assurance Manager position within the department.
The Quality Assurance Manager develops scopes of practice and utilization management for the department for quality assurance and improvement programs.
It is a common practice for Quality Assurance Managers to be licensed clinicians due to the nature of the work, which includes developing, implementing, and maintaining procedural systems that monitor the quality of client care using state, federal, and local regulations to meet compliance requirements of the department.
Additionally, the flexible allocation of this position to a Clinical program manager would allow the department to recruit an experienced candidate that would benefit the department in the management of the team.
The allocation will increase the retention capabilities of any program manager that meets the education requirements to promote to clinical program manager.
C. Human Services Agency
1. The board adopted a resolution for the Transitional Housing Program and Housing Navigation and Maintenance Programs authorizing the application for and acceptance of the program allocations.
The California State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) received authority to allocate funds for Transitional Housing Program (THP) services.
Furthermore, HCD received authority to allocate funds for Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP) services.
The Human Services Agency (HSA) requested approval to accept the allocations from HCD to be used for transitional housing and housing navigation and maintenance services.
The THP Round Four allocation was created under item 2240-102-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2022 (Chapter 249 of the Statutes of 2022) and Chapter 11.7 beginning with Section 50807) of part 2 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code.
The board previously adopted three resolutions for the THP allocations that approved accepting funds for transitional housing services.
The first resolution, No. 20-018, was adopted on March 24, 2020. The second resolution, No. 21-001, was adopted on Jan. 5, 2021.
The third resolution, No. 21-075, was adopted on Nov. 29, 2021. HCD shall allocate $8 million in funding to counties for housing stability to help young adults 18 to 24 to secure and maintain housing, with priority given to young adults formerly in the foster care or probation systems.
The THP Round Four allocation amount for Kings County is $176,013.
The allocation is based on each county’s percentage of the total statewide number of young adults 18 through 20 years of age in foster care and homeless unaccompanied young adults ages 18 through 24.
The HNMP Round One allocation was created under item 2240-103-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2022 (Chapter 43 of the Statutes of 2022) and Chapter 11.8 (commencing with Section 50811) of part 2 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code.
The program manager previously adopted two resolutions relating to housing navigation program services. The first resolution, No. 20-018, was adopted on March 24, 2020.
The second resolution, No. 21-074, was adopted on Nov. 9, 2021. The HNMP Round One allocation amount for Kings County is $109,764.
The allocation is based on the county’s percentage of the total statewide number of young adults aged 17 through 21 in foster care.
This is not an annual allocation, as funding depends on each year’s budget.
The THP and HNMP allocations are to provide housing, housing navigation, and supportive services to assist young adults in Kings County.
The HNMP allocation requires training for child welfare agency social workers and probation officers who serve nonminor dependents.
The training shall also address how to access and receive a referral to existing housing resources and the social worker and probation officer’s role in identifying and referring youth needing housing assistance programs.
The HSA’s Supportive Services Unit will utilize the THP and HNMP allocations, which will provide subsidies and services to homeless individuals ages 17 through 24, as defined by program allocation requirements, with priority given to young adults who are former child welfare youth.
D. Public Health Department:
1. The board retroactively approved an agreement with the California Department of Public Health for the California Home Visiting Program, effective from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
The requested appropriation will increase State Aid Revenue Account 85160 by $194,979, and various expense accounts by $194,979 for fiscal year 2022-2023 under budget unit 419700.
The California Department of Public Health has allocated State General Funds to expand the California Home Visiting Program.
Home visitation is designed for families at risk for Adverse Childhood Experiences, including child maltreatment, domestic violence, substance use disorder and mental health-related issues.
Home visiting gives parents and guardians the tools, knowledge and support to raise their children independently.
The California Home Visiting Program (CHVP) serves pregnant and newly parenting families with one or more risk factors: Domestic violence, inadequate income, unstable housing, education less than 12 years, substance use disorder, and depression and/or mental health-related issues.
The program aims to promote maternal health and well-being, improve infant and child health and development, strengthen family functioning and cultivate strong communities.
Research has shown that evidence-based home-visiting programs produce positive outcomes that save taxpayer dollars by reducing societal costs associated with intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, youth crime, substance use disorder and the need for government assistance.
Local Health Jurisdictions funded by CHVP can implement one of the three evidence-based (EVB) home-visiting models: Parents as Teachers, Healthy Families America and Nurse-Family Partnership.
All three models are strengths-based and focus on a participant’s interests.
The goals are also the same across the models: increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve parenting practices; provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues; prevent child abuse and neglect; and increase children’s school readiness and success.
The Agreement Funding Application (AFA) for the CHVP State General Fund Expansion Plan for fiscal year (fiscal year) 2022-2023 was delayed at the state level.
The Kings County Department of Public Health (KCDPH) received the AFA on Dec. 16, 2022, effective July 1, 2022.
KCPDH submitted the AFA Packet to the state on Jan. 6, 2023.
The goal for fiscal year 2022-2023 is to develop a plan to implement one of the three EVB home visiting models in Kings County and prepare the department to begin implementation activities by fiscal year 2023-2024.
This is a four-year grant, and future allocations will be included in the adopted county budgets.
E. Sheriff’s Office (reported by Sheriff David Robinson)
1. The board authorized the Sheriff’s Office to allow the Detentions Deputy Association to purchase the service handguns and approved the purchase of Glock handguns as replacements
The Detentions Deputy Association will pay the replacement value of the handguns, estimated to be $960.
The Kings County Sheriff’s Office will purchase a replacement weapon at a cost, at most, of $960, to be paid out of Budget Unit 222000.
The Detentions Deputy Association is requesting to purchase two Glock handguns from the Kings County Sheriff’s Office.
The Detentions Deputy Association will present the service handguns as retirement gifts to Assistant Sheriff Dave Putnam and Sgt. Terrance Wilson.
2. a. The board approved the new job specification for undersheriff and set the salary at Range 289.5 ($10,719 – $13,080 monthly).
b. The board allocated 1 full-time undersheriff position in Budget Unit 222000
c. The board deleted the 1 full-time assistant sheriff position in Budget Unit 222000.
In the fiscal year 1996-97 budget, Sheriff Ken Marvin requested and was approved for a reorganization.
This reorganization removed the undersheriff and 2.0 captain positions and reclassified the lieutenants to commanders.
Sheriff has requested and been approved to rename the detentions commander to detentions captain, create 4.0 detentions lieutenant positions and add 1.0 sheriff’s commander in our communications division.
Since 2011, the Sheriff’s Office has grown to 82 full-time positions. The jail capacity has increased to over 600 beds from slightly more than 300 beds in 2011.
The demands on law enforcement drastically increase each year, creating a larger workload and more responsibilities across the department, especially in the management arena.
Robinson proposes to allocate one full-time Undersheriff position in Budget Unit 222000 and remove the full-time Assistant Sheriff position in Budget Unit 222000.
Robinson would propose to overfill the undersheriff position to make them both undersheriffs until Putnam retires on April 30.
At that time, the reorganization would have Robert Thayer remain as the single undersheriff and allow for the promotion of an assistant sheriff reporting directly to the undersheriff. The undersheriff would report directly to the sheriff.
One of the challenges over the past 12 years has been needing a clear second in command with two assistant sheriffs.
Creating the position of undersheriff removes this problem and brings our organization more in line with other comparable sheriff offices.
Consent calendar items continued to consist of the following:
F. Administration:
1. a. The board approved the county’s Fiscal Loss of Revenue Report to the State from 2018 to 2020 of fees eliminated by Assembly Bill 199;
b. The board authorized the county administrative officer to submit the annual report for AB 177.
The county’s fiscal loss for fiscal year 2017-2018 is $23,747; fiscal year 2018-2019 is $28,889; and fiscal year 2019-2020 is $28,713.
The allocation received for fiscal year 2021-22 is $129,375, and fiscal year 2022-23 is $258,749. The yearly allocation from the state for fiscal year 2022-2023 and ongoing to backfill counties is $258,749. It will be deposited to Budget Unit 110900 – General Fund Revenue, Account 88025 (Other Revenue) each year.
On June 30, 2022, Gov. Newsom signed AB 199, which eliminated 17 different criminal and administrative fees charged by local governments to individuals arrested, prosecuted or convicted.
In addition, AB 177 set aside $25 million in 2021-22 and $50 million in 2022-23 and is ongoing to backfill counties for estimated lost revenue.
The first allocations became available on Dec. 15, 2022, and were deposited in the county’s General Fund Revenue budget unit.
The California Department of Finance (DOF) finalized the AB 199 county-by-county allocation schedule to backfill counties due to revenues lost.
DOF established this allocation schedule based on the methodology provided by Chapter 57, Statutes of 2022 (AB 199). AB 199 specifies how the California director of finance will disburse the $50 million per year that was appropriated by AB 199.
AB 199 requires the California Director of Finance to finalize a methodology for determining how much money each county will be allocated and sets forth what the methodology must be based on.
It also specifies that each county’s board of supervisors can determine how the money will be spent.
Per AB 199, the county must send a Fiscal Loss of Revenue Report to the state for fees eliminated by AB 177 in the last three most recent years of collection by May 1, 2023.
The state organizations that receive the reports are the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), Department of Finance (DOF) and Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO).
Additionally, per AB 177, by Jan. 10, 2024, Counties must report the total annual budget of the county department/s receiving any portion of the backfill from AB 199, the share of backfill received by the county department/s, accounting expenditures of their received allocations, and a detailed description of the programs, services, strategies or enhancements the funding supported.
2. a. The board approved the Medi-Cal County Inmate Program Participation Agreement 23- MCIPKINGS-16 with the California Department of Health Care Services for the Medi-Cal County Inmate Program effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026;
b. The board approved the Medi-Cal County Inmate Program Agreement for Administrative Services 23-30026 with the California Department of Health Care Services for July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026.
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is the state agency responsible for administering the Medi-Cal County Inmate Program (MCIP).
Agreeing on the MCIP will allow the County to seek reimbursements from the state for qualifying inmate in-patient hospital stays. The savings to the county is $317,504.
MCIP makes federal financial participation available for medical care provided to Medi-Cal-eligible county inmates.
Therefore, through this program, the county can obtain budgetary savings for the medical care provided to its Medi-Cal-eligible inmates.
These savings occur to the county because the federal government, through Medi-Cal, provides eligible inmates Medi-Cal funding for eligible medical services received.
The Participation Agreement (PA) between the Department of Health Care Services and the county permits the county to voluntarily participate in the Medi-Cal County Inmate Program.
The Agreement for Administrative Services is intended to reimburse the California Department of Health Care Services for its administrative costs associated with administering the MCIP.
On Aug. 13, 2019, the board approved participation in the MCIP in fiscal year 2019-2020 for the term July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020 (Agreement No. 19-96165).
On June 16, 2020, the board approved participation in the MCIP in fiscal year 2020-2023 for the term July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2023 (Agreement No. 20- MCIPKINGS-16).
The program is voluntary, and the county may choose whether to continue participating in the MCIP for fiscal years 2023-2026.
The MCIP allows for the following:
- Adult County Inmate Program (ACIP)
- Provides Medi-Cal allowable inpatient hospital services, including inpatient psychiatric services and physician services provided during the inpatient hospital service stay of adult inmates in county correctional facilities determined eligible for Medi-Cal.
Therefore, it relieves the county of all or a portion of the cost of medical services provided.
- Juvenile County Ward Program (JCWP)
- Provides Medi-Cal allowable inpatient hospital services, including inpatient psychiatric and physician services, of juvenile inmates in county correctional facilities determined eligible for Medi-Cal.
Therefore, it relieves the county of all or a portion of the cost of medical services provided. On Aug. 30, 2022, the board approved the Second Amendment to the Agreement between California Forensic Medical Group, Inc. and the county (Agreement No. 20-033.2) to provide adult and juvenile inmates health care services.
Under that contract, the county is responsible for the costs related to care outside the facility for up to a cap amount. The cap was set at $244,007.
By enrolling in the MCIP program, Medi-Cal can pay for some or all offsite costs for Medi-Cal-eligible County inmates for medical services, resulting in savings for the County.
3. The board appointed four new Kings County Behavioral Health Advisory Committee members.
The purpose of the Kings County Behavioral Health Advisory board is to review and evaluate the community’s mental health, prevention, intervention, and treatment services, facilities, and related special problems.
Appointments are for three years unless the position is filling an unexpired term. The term expiration for the representatives requesting appointments today is:
- BOS/County Agency Representative term expires on Dec. 31, 2024,
- Two CAL/Consumer Representatives have terms expiring on Dec. 31, 2025,
- One CAL/Family of Consumer Representatives has a term expiring on Dec. 31, 2024.
Applicants are as follows:
- Codi Pennington – BOS/County Agency representative – replacing Scott Holwell – no application required
- Debbie Allen – CAL/Consumer representative
- Anthony Gracian – CAL/Family of a Consumer representative
- Michell Allen – CAL/Consumer representative
4. a. The board authorized the County Administrative Officer to sign Standard Agreement with the board of State and Community Corrections to fund the indigent defense providers retroactively, effective from March 1, 2023, through March 1, 2025.
The agreement will provide $172,064 in revenue for Department 302500 in fiscal year 2023- 24 and will be included in the fiscal year 2023-24 Requested Budget.
On November 20, 2022, the Kings County Administration Office was notified that they could receive $172,064 in Public Defense Pilot Program funding from March 1, 2023, through March 1, 2025, with final reporting due April 16, 2025.
The grant is available noncompetitively to counties that apply to receive the funding.
On Dec. 5, 2022, the department submitted an application packet that met the requirements, including a project description, budget and work plan identifying measurable project goals, objective, and commensurate timelines.
Grant agreements are considered fully executed only after signing them by both the Grantee and the BSCC. In addition, a formal resolution is required by the BSCC to receive this grant. This agreement was received from the board of State and Community Corrections on March 21, 2023, making it retroactive.
Regular agenda items are as follows:
A. Administration (presented by County Administrative Officer Edward Hill and Assistant County Administrative Officer Kyria Martinez)
1. The board (5-0) amended the Senate Bill 1383 requirements ordinance.
On Sept. 27, 2022, the board introduced and waived the first reading of the county’s ordinance outlining all organic waste recycling and edible food recovery requirements necessary to comply with Senate Bill (SB) 1383.
On Oct. 4, 2022, the board waived the second reading and adopted the ordinance, which went into effect on Nov. 3, 2022.
As the county worked through drafting the necessary hauler agreements outlined in the ordinance, all permitted haulers in the county expressed a desire to alter the license term and remove the requirement to contract with Kings Waste and Recycling Authority (KWRA).
Article III, Sec. 13-31 (2) of the original ordinance states a three-year hauler license term.
Since the hauler agreements currently being drafted serve as the county’s hauler licenses, the agreements need to align with the language in the county ordinance.
Therefore, staff recommends amending Article III, Sec. 13-31 (2) to state that a hauler license term is 10 years.
Article III, Sec. 13-37 (1)(g) of the original ordinance states that all licensed haulers must agree with KWRA to guarantee that KWRA will accept the hauler’s solid waste and recyclables.
However, both the haulers and KWRA want to avoid being required to agree with each other. As such, staff are also fine with removing this provision and recommend removing this requirement.
Adding a two-step appeal process is also recommended to allow haulers to petition any potential revocation of their hauling license due to breach of contract.
The amended ordinance has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
B. Public Health Department (presented by Public Health Director Rose Mary Rahn and Assistant Director Heather Silva)
1. The board received an update on the local emergency in Kings County and new changes to several state public health officer orders related to the imminent and proximate threat of exposure to COVID-19 on the residents of the County of Kings.
A Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the virus a serious public health threat.
The exact modes of transmission, the factors facilitating human-to-human transmission, the extent of asymptomatic viral shedding, the groups most at risk of serious illness, the attack rate and the case fatality rate all remain active areas of investigation.
The CDC currently believes that symptoms appear two to 14 days after exposure. There are vaccines and antiviral treatments for COVID-19. Updates will be added to the board’s agenda as needed or presented during open comments.
On March 3, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced updates to several state public health officer orders that have guided Californians on how best to protect themselves and their families throughout the pandemic.
The updates to the orders related to vaccination, masking, isolation and quarantine will take effect in the coming days.
As of Monday next week, masking will no longer be required in indoor and high-risk health care settings, including long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, and homeless, emergency, and cooling centers.
Federal rules continue to ensure that most health care workers remain vaccinated, while the state will no longer require vaccination.
Closed session includes the following:
- Personnel matter: [Govt Code Section 54957] Public Employee Appointment: County Administrative Officer
- Conference with labor negotiator/meet and confer: [Govt. Code Section 54957.6] Negotiators: Edward Hill, Kyria Martinez, Carolyn Leist, Che Johnson of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
General Unit – CLOCEA
Supervisor’s Unit – CLOCEA
Blue Collar – SEIU
Detention Deputy’s Association
Firefighters Association
Deputy Sheriffs Association
Probation Officers Association
Prosecutor’s Association
Unrepresented Management
The meeting ended at 1 p.m. The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 9 a.m.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.